Lomas laughed. “My dear Fortune, I like your earnest simplicity. It’s a new side to your character and full of charm. I quite agree the bag is interesting. I think it’s conclusive. A neat and pretty touch. The little lady threw it into the river to give her disappearance glamour.”
“Rather well thrown,” said Reggie. “Say a quarter of a mile. Hefty damsel.”
“Oh, my dear fellow, she may have taken a boat, she may have crossed and walked up the towpath.”
“Just to get her bag into the river above her house? Why would she want to put it in above her house? She couldn’t be sure that it would stay there. It might have sunk. It might have drifted a mile farther.”
Lomas shrugged. “Well, as you say. But we don’t know that the bag was lost that night at all. She may have dropped it out of a boat any time and anywhere.”
“Yes, but plenty of boats go up and down that reach. And we found it bright and early the morning after she vanished. Why didn’t anybody else find it before? I rather fancy it wasn’t there, Lomas.”
“What’s your theory, Mr. Fortune?” said Bell eagerly.
“My dear fellow! Oh, my dear fellow! I don’t know the lady.”
“They say she’s a sportive maiden,” Lomas smiled. “I’ll wager you’ll have a run for your money, Bell.”
Reggie Fortune considered him severely. “I don’t think it’s a race to bet on, Lomas, old thing.”