The host eyed him in the firelight. "You don't feel like telling it just at once, do you?" he enquired kindly. He had been thinking his friend was looking none too fit.
"Oh, I don't mind, Alan, if you care to have it now."
"I admit curiosity. Is there anything to prevent your telling it in Caw's presence? Be quite candid—"
"Caw is welcome to it."
"Thanks," Alan rang the bell. "Caw and I have a good many gaps in our knowledge, and it's just possible that you may be able to fill some for us."
"I've found out next to nothing definite except that Bullard is a rank liar; but I'm determined to go on with the shadowing—"
Caw appeared, and was about to remove the tea-tray.
"Never mind that just now," said Alan. "Give us lights, sit down, and listen to what Mr. France has to say…. Go ahead, Teddy. We'll keep quiet till you've finished."
Teddy's, as we should have expected, was not a very long story. At its conclusion Alan turned to the servant.
"Well, Caw?"