‘You said: until “they” write a second time. What reason have you to suppose that any one is concerned in this but Schmidt?’
She had been thinking of the wording of the paper, of Blosse and his ‘accomplices.’
‘The letter mentioned two other names,’ she said.
‘I have no doubt that Schmidt goes by twenty,’ returned her husband testily. ‘You know very well that Pozzi and Pizzuti both stand for Schmidt!’
He lighted his cigarette, and smoked in silence for some moments.
‘I cannot understand why you have changed your mind,’ he repeated at last. ‘You must have some reason.’
Maria attempted a little diplomacy.
‘Don’t you think a second letter, if it should come, might give a better clue for the police to work on, or might—what do they call it?—strengthen the evidence against Schmidt?’
‘There is evidence enough already to send him to penal servitude, if we can catch him,’ answered Montalto. ‘I really cannot see what more is needed!’