“Oh, nothing of consequence,” Flash remarked, enjoying the effect of his news. “Major Hartgrove has been kidnapped—that’s all.”
Doyle stopped short. “Kidnapped!”
“It looks that way. He disappeared from his room, and the place has been ransacked.”
“This isn’t another of your yarns?”
“Call it that,” Flash shrugged. “I’m tired of trying to convince anyone of anything.”
“Don’t get sore,” Doyle said placatingly. “Tell me what happened.”
Relenting, Flash related all which had transpired at the interview with Gordon and Rascomb, and likewise told of the summons to Major Hartgrove’s room.
“You’ll scoff,” he ended, “but I think Rascomb called Johns and me into conference so he would have an alibi when it was discovered Hartgrove was missing.”
Doyle did not laugh.
“You cling like a leech to your theory that Povy and Rascomb are the same person.”