“Well,” Drake said, “we can ask her.”
“Later on,” Mason told him, “after Della Street shows up, I’m going to do some thinking. I have an idea there’s a plain, logical solution to this whole business staring us in the face, Paul, but I can’t see it right now because I’m too worried about Della.”
“You’re going to make a mistake if you crowd Eves,” Drake warned. “You could do a lot more by putting cards on the table... Look here, Perry, why don’t you get Van Densie to approach him?”
“Why Van Densie?”
“He’s the lawyer who defended him on that last murder rap. He might be able to square the whole thing up for you.”
“Not that shyster,” Mason said. “Anyway, he’s in bad enough already. He has troubles of his own. He wouldn’t cross the street to do me a good turn.”
“Why not try it?” Drake persisted.
Mason said, “I can’t try anything except direct action, Paul. I can’t explain it. When I talk with a man, I form an impression of whether or not he’s telling the truth. If I can look Eves in the eyes and ask him about Della, I’ll bet money I can tell whether he’s lying.”
“All right, suppose he’s lying. Then what?” Drake asked.
Mason said, “Then I’ll take him into custody.”