Golding and the woman exchanged swift glances. Then Golding said, “That doesn’t prove anything. I’ll bet a detective agency could turn up a hundred blue sedans with crumpled left rear fenders on twenty-four hours’ notice.”

“That’s possible,” Mason admitted readily enough.

“Then why do you want us as witnesses?”

“Oh, I just thought the jury might be interested in hearing about where you went after Cullens left your place.”

“That’s another thing I don’t like,” Golding said. “You’ve been snooping around with my bankers, trying to put the finger on me there.”

Mason’s eyes became level-lidded as they stared at the gambler. “I don’t like that word snooping, Golding,” he said.

“Well, I said snooping.”

“I heard you.”

The woman said, “Wait a minute, Bill. That isn’t going to get you anywhere.”

“I’ll say it isn’t,” Mason agreed.