"Talk of one-track minds!" said Hemingway, as the door shut behind Cathercott. "Little details like murder don't mean a thing to him! Well, now, Sandy, we've got a highly significant angle on the case. We'll pay another call on Lady Nest Poulton in the morning!"
"Not on Mrs. Haddington?" said the Inspector, with the glimmer of a smile.
"No, because I've not got a one-track mind!" retorted Hemingway.
But when he arrived at the house in Belgrave Square next day, he was met by the intelligence that her ladyship was not at home.
"If you mean she isn't receiving callers, just take my card up to her, will you?" said Hemingway.
The butler said, in a voice carefully devoid of ignoble triumph, that her ladyship left town on the previous evening. He regretted that he was unable to give the Chief Inspector her address, or to inform him when she would return. He suggested that these questions should rather be put to Mr.. Poulton.
"Oh, so he's not gone out of town too?"
"No," said the butler, raising his brows.
"Is he at home?"
"Mr.. Poulton is never at home during the day. You will find him at his office, Chief Inspector. Would there be anything further you would like to ask me?"