“Three months ago, Mr. Carter, during the first three days in September.”
“Three days, eh? It covered a considerable period.”
“A period of apprehension and anxiety beyond description.”
“Began at the beginning, Clayton, and tell me the whole business.”
“I can tell you only what occurred. It will be up to you to determine why it was done and what it signified.”
“I will endeavor to do so.”
“As is my custom once a week,” Clayton began, “I had been out to Washington Heights to dine with my mother, who dislikes hotel life and for whom I bought an attractive place out there three years ago. Miss Langham was with me, the young lady to whom I am engaged. She is the only daughter of Gustavus Langham, president of the Century Trust Company.’
“I am acquainted with him,” Nick observed.
“They have a suite here in the house,” Clayton added. “My only other companion was my chauffeur, Paul Hazen,[Pg 4] who was driving my touring car. We started to return about ten o’clock. We had covered less than half a mile, and had arrived at a point in the road where there are no near dwellings, when we were held up by a touring car that stopped as we were approaching, and at such an angle across the road that we could not pass it.”
“The occupants evidently had been waiting for you,” Chick remarked.