"I wonder if they were the three books that Milburgh bought yesterday?"
"The three ledgers?"
Whiteside nodded.
"But why on earth should he want to put in three new ledgers—they were new, weren't they? That doesn't seem to me to be a very intelligent suggestion. And yet——"
He jumped up, almost upsetting the table in his excitement.
"Quick, Whiteside! Get a cab while I settle the bill," he said.
"Where are you going?"
"Hurry up and get the cab!" said Tarling, and when he had rejoined his companion outside, and the taxi was bowling along the Thames Embankment: "I'm going to St. Mary Axe."
"So I gathered from your directions to the cabman," said Whiteside. "But why St. Mary Axe at this time of the afternoon? The very respectable Dashwood and Solomon will not be glad to see you until to-morrow."
"I'm going to see these books," said Tarling, "the books which Milburgh sent to the accountants this morning."