When the detective went out there was silence for some time. Dyke was the first to speak.
“Have you formed any sort of theory, even a wildly speculative one?” he asked.
“No; none whatever. The utter absence of motive is the most puzzling element of the whole situation.”
“Whom can my wife have known at Raleigh Mansions? What sort of places are they?”
“Quite fashionable, but not too expensive. The absence of elevators and doorkeepers cheapens them. I am sorry now that I mentioned them to White.”
“Why?”
“He will disturb every one of the residents by injudicious inquiries. Each housemaid who opens a door will be to him a suspicious individual, each butcher’s boy an accomplice, each tenant a principal in the abduction of your wife. If I have a theory of any sort, it is that the first reliable news will come from Richmond. There cannot be the slightest doubt that she was going there on Tuesday night.”
“It will be very odd if you should prove to be right,” said Sir Charles.
Again they were interrupted by the footman, this time the bearer of a telegram, which he handed to his master.