“Queen Anne’s Gate is the one way—the two Frattens. And Hessel may or may not have been in it.”
“And this woman ‘Daphne,’ sir?”
“Doesn’t exist. She’s been forced on to you by the Frattens—exactly as a conjurer forces a card. Miss Fratten’s an attractive woman, Poole—I’ve made a point of having a look at her since the Inquest—she’s been playing with you. I’m not going to rub it in, because I think you’ve learnt your lesson. As for the girl you followed, she was Miss Saverel of course, going out with a friend—possibly one of her employers. There’s nothing significant about her—the significant part was all put up by the Frattens.”
Poole realized that this reading was for the moment unanswerable; he did not, at any rate, intend to argue about it—but he did not believe it. He arranged for Sergeant Gower to interview Mr. Tapping, whilst he himself went across to Queen Anne’s Gate to see Mangane. It was an infernal nuisance that a Saturday—followed by Sunday—should intervene just when he was getting on to a hot scent.
Before seeing the secretary, however, Poole knew that he must get through a very unpleasant duty. He asked for Miss Fratten and was shown into her sitting-room. Inez received him with an eager smile and an extended hand. Poole felt a treacherous brute as he took it.
“Have you see your brother, Miss Fratten?” he asked.
“Yes, he had breakfast here. I asked him what he was doing at that place last night; he got very stuffy—told me to mind my own business—or words to that effect—so I did.”
Poole nodded; he saw no point in discussing Ryland’s conduct with Miss Fratten—that must be done with Ryland himself.
“My man told me he’d come back to his lodgings last night—I haven’t had a report about this morning. Apparently he apologized to Fallows for slipping him and said he might have to do it again. I hope he won’t—I shall have to double the watch.”
“Anyhow it proves that he’s not going to bolt,” said Inez. “If he was, he could have done it yesterday.”