“Pity Sherlock isn’t here,” he let fall in a regretful tone. “He turned into an entomologist of sorts when he retired. Perhaps he could tell us what earthly use spiders can be.”
“They keep down flies,” said Wendover, instructively.
“So they do. Illuminating idea! I wish I’d thought of it myself. They keep down flies!”
“When you’ve quite finished being funny, perhaps you’ll get on with your job, Clinton. You’re supposed to be detecting murderers, not delivering lectures on insects.”
Sir Clinton dropped his jesting tone at once.
“Quite right. We ought to be getting along to the police-station now.”
“Aren’t you going to do any more here?”
“No.”
“What about bringing up that dog of yours and seeing if it can do anything?”
“The dog could do nothing in this case,” said Sir Clinton, definitely. “It would be a mere waste of time.”