"How soon do you think you'll be able to take action?" asked Hardy. "I suppose you'll want a bit more solid proof before you actually arrest them."
"I'd have to be certain that they don't wriggle out of it," said Parker, slowly. "It's not enough to prove that they were acquainted. There may be letters, of course, when we go over the girl's things. Or Penberthy's—though he's hardly the man to leave compromising documents lying about."
"You haven't detained Miss Dorland?"
"No, we've let her loose—on a string. I don't mind telling you one thing. There's been no communication of any kind with Penberthy."
"Of course there hasn't," said Wimsey. "They've quarrelled."
The others stared at him.
"How do you know that?" demanded Parker, annoyed.
"Oh, well—it doesn't matter—I think so, that's all. And any way, they would take jolly good care not to communicate, once the alarm was given."
"Hullo!" broke in Hardy, "here's Waffles. Late again. Waffles!—what have you been doing, old boy?"
"Interviewing the Rushworths," said Waffles, edging his way into a chair by Hardy. He was a thin, sandy person, with a tired manner. Hardy introduced him to Wimsey and Parker.