“I intend to detain you until I have made further inquiries,” he said.
“How long will these inquiries take?” asked Crewe.
“No one knows better than you, Mr. Crewe, that it is impossible for me to answer such a question,” said the Scotland Yard man. “One thing leads to another in these cases. As Captain Marsland shows no disposition to help us, they will take at least three or four days.”
“But perhaps I can help you,” suggested Crewe.
“Well, I don’t know what evidence you have picked up in the course of your investigations, Mr. Crewe, but I can tell you that Westaway and I have some evidence that will startle you. Haven’t we, Westaway?”
“Very startling evidence, indeed,” said the sergeant, in a proud official tone.
“I am glad of that,” said Crewe. “Perhaps the addition of the little I have picked up—that is the addition of whatever part of it is new to you—will enable you to solve this puzzling crime.”
“Very likely indeed,” said Gillett. “There are not many links missing in our chain of evidence.”
“I congratulate you,” responded Crewe. “There are a good many missing in mine.”
Gillett broke into a laugh in which there was a distinct note of self-satisfaction.