“What is it this time?” Mason asked.
“You sure can pick goofy cases. Did you know all this business about Tidings was going to break?”
Mason glanced at Della Street, then shook his head.
Drake said, “How’d you like to get some dope on Tidings’ love-life, Perry?”
“On the trail of something?” Mason asked.
“Uh huh. May be on the trail of Tidings himself. If he’s missing, I think I can put my finger on the person who saw him last.”
Mason sat up in his chair to drum nervously with the tips of his fingers on the edge of his desk. “Darned if I know whether I want to try to capitalize on that or not, Paul,” he said.
“How soon would you know?”
“After two o’clock this afternoon.”
Drake said, “I don’t think it’ll keep that long, Perry. There’s too much pressure being brought to bear. Some newspaper chap or some detective will stumble onto it.”