Mary said worriedly: "Aunt Ermy, why did he put that question?"
"Don't ask me, love! Well, I never did like policemen, and it just shows you, doesn't it? As though I'd make up a thing like that! Why, whatever would I do it for, when the one thing I dread is everyone finding out about Wally's goings-on with that girl?"
"Not you," Mary said. "There's no doubt Wally did say five hundred. He said it to you, and he said it to me. But was it true?"
"But heavens alive, ducky, even Wally wouldn't ask me for five hundred for his mistress, unless he couldn't get out of it! I mean to say!"
"You knew already about Gladys Baker. It wasn't like making a confession to you. Supposing he wanted five hundred?"
"Mary, what's come over you? I never grudged Wally a penny! He could have had five hundred any day!"
"Not for something you disapproved of."
Ermyntrude blinked at her uncomprehendingly. "I don't get what you're after, dear. I don't know what I could have disapprovedd of more than his getting that Baker girl into trouble, I'm sure!"
"Aunt Ermy, do you mind if we have Hugh in? I've got an idea in my head, and I don't know whether I oughtt to tell the police, or - or whether it's all too vague. But if they're suspicious of Baker, because of this five hundred pound business, and all the time he didn't ask Wally for it, surely I ought to - Hugh would know!"
"Well, I don't mind his hearing about it. But what about Lady Dering? We can't leave her all alone out there, can we?"