“It is of no consequence,” returned Crewe, “for you have evidence in your possession that Mrs. Grange was inside the farmhouse. The comb you found in the sitting-room downstairs belongs to her. When I went to see her she was wearing one exactly similar to it. Apparently she had two of them. And she does not know where she lost the one the police have, or she would not wear its fellow.”
CHAPTER XX
Dinner was just over at Sir George Granville’s house, and Crewe, on hearing that Detective Gillett and Sergeant Westaway had called to see him, took them into the library at his host’s suggestion.
“I have seen Grange and his wife, and also Mrs. Penfield,” said Gillett.
“And what did you get from them?” asked Crewe.
“A great deal of interesting information—and most of it bearing out your theory, Mr. Crewe. I must say that this crime has more twists and turns than any I have ever had anything to do with.”
“I formed the impression some time ago that it was a complicated and interesting case,” said Crewe.
“And I want to say, Mr. Crewe, that you have been a great help to us. If it wasn’t for you we shouldn’t have got on the right track so soon, should we, sergeant?”
Sergeant Westaway, who was not very quick at arriving at conclusions, had discovered that Detective Gillett was generally ready to call him to official comradeship in the mistakes that had been made, but less disposed to give him an equal share in any success achieved. He nodded in silent acquiescence with the admission that they owed something to Crewe.