“Yes!” he inflected. “How very interesting.”
“I’m delighted that you find it so,” was the answer. “It encourages me to go deeper into that matter.”
“By all means!” said Harleston, pushing the pillow aside and sitting up. “Pray, proceed. I’m all attention.”
“Then we’ll go straight to the point. You found certain articles in the cab, Mr. Harleston—we have come for those articles.”
“I am quite at a loss to understand,” Harleston replied. “Cab—articles! Have they to do with your little matter of Eighteenth and Massachusetts Avenue several hours ago?”
“They are the crux of the matter,” Marston said shortly. “And you will confer a great favour upon persons high in authority of a friendly power if you will return the articles in question.”
“My dear sir,” Harleston exclaimed, “I haven’t the articles, whatever they may be; and pardon me, even if I had, I should not deliver them to you; I’ve never, to the best of my recollection, seen either of you gentlemen before this pleasant occasion.”
“My dear Mr. Harleston,” remarked Sparrow, “all your actions at the cab of the sleeping horse were observed and noted, so why protest?”
“I’m not protesting; I’m simply stating two pertinent facts!” Harleston laughed.
“We will grant the fact that you’ve never seen us,” said Marston, “but that you have not got the articles in question, we,” with apologizing gesture, “beg leave to doubt.”