"He was quite capable of it. But I think Miss Hest did that to protect Maunders from possible suspicion. For no one would think that the man had anything to do with the matter of The Spider, who blackmailed his adopted mother. Simply a smart trick of Miss Hest's, Vernon, that's all."
"Have some more champagne, Colonel?"
"Thank you, no more. Come along and see my wife."
"I have to meet Lucy at Swan & Edgar's," said Vernon glancing at his watch.
"I'll go with you there first and then we can have afternoon tea together."
"Right you are, Colonel, on condition that you dine with Lucy and myself at our hotel and come to the theatre afterwards."
Towton nodded. "Well, Ida and I are up in town for a frolic, so we'll come."
"When do you return to Bowderstyke?"
"In two or three days. I'm seeing about the re-building of the Bolly Dam."
"Isn't that dangerous?" asked Vernon as they left the club. "No. I am arranging for large channels to carry off the water. Besides, had not the dam been blown up by that Indian beast the catastrophe would not have taken place. Any more questions?"