“You'll have that question put to you at the inquest when you're on your oath,” said the Inspector sharply. “You may as well answer now and save trouble.”
Markfield stared for a moment longer at the fly in the amber.
“Where did you pick this thing up?” he demanded, without answering the Inspector's question.
But Flamborough saw that he had got on the track of something definite at last, and was not inclined to be put off.
“That's our business, sir,” he said brusquely. “You recognise the thing, obviously. Whose is it? It's no use trying to shield anyone. The thing's too conspicuous; and if you don't tell us about it, someone else will. But it doesn't look well to find you trying to throw dust in our eyes.”
Markfield could not help seeing that the Inspector attached special importance to the holder; and he evidently recognised that further shuffling was out of the question.
“I'm not going to identify it for you,” he said. “You've let slip that it's an important clue; and I don't know it well enough to make assertions about it. I'll send for a man now who'll be able to swear definitely, one way or another. That's all I see my way to do for you.”
He put his hand on a bell-push and they waited in silence until a boy came in answer to the summons.
“Send Gilling to me at once,” Markfield ordered.
Then, when the boy had withdrawn, he turned to the two officials again.