"I see!" said Matherfield. "All right—you'll see me again this afternoon."
He strode away towards the Strand, and there ushered Hetherwick into the first empty taxi-cab they met.
"Where now?" asked Hetherwick as Matherfield followed him into the cab after a word to its driver.
"We're going now, sir, to Hallam Street, to the offices of the General Medical Council," answered Matherfield promptly. "I've had experience of inquiring into the antecedents of medical men before, and I know where to find out all about any of 'em. I'm going to find out all about this Dr. Charles Ambrose—that is, of course, if he's an English doctor."
"Probably he isn't," remarked Hetherwick, "any more than Baseverie is."
"Ah, Baseverie!" exclaimed Matherfield. "I'd forgotten that man for the time being! Well, while we're about it, we'll see if we can unearth a bit of information concerning him. We've done a bit of good work this morning, ye know, Mr. Hetherwick!" he went on, rubbing his hands with satisfaction. "We've practically made certain that Ambrose was the man who met Hannaford at Victoria, and we're sure he's the man to whom Macpherson supplied the bottle in which the poison was discovered at Granett's room. And now we'll hope for a bit more illumination in the darkness!"
Hetherwick presently found himself closeted with Matherfield and a grave official who, after seeing Matherfield's credentials and listening to his reasons for his visit of inquiry, began to consult various books of reference. Presently he left the room and was away some time; when he returned he brought with him two slips of paper, which he handed to Matherfield.
"I have had the particulars you require written out for you," he said, "so you can examine them at your leisure. I—" here he smiled frostily—"I gather that you are somewhat anxious to get in touch with these men?"
"I think it's extremely probable, sir, that before the day's over I shall be exceedingly anxious to get in touch with both!" answered Matherfield, with something very like a wink. "More than anxious!"
The grave official nodded and smiled again, and Matherfield and Hetherwick went away. Outside Matherfield looked right and left.