“Where is it?”
“In my desk.”
“Has it been there most of the time?”
“Yes. It is in one of the small drawers.”
“I inferred so,” Nick said, a bit dryly. “May I see it?”
“Certainly.”
Before the Englishman could open the small interior drawer toward which he reached, however, Nick checked him by saying abruptly, as if suddenly hit with another idea:
“Stay! I don’t think I really care to see it. Instead, Waldmere, I would like to question your butler and the two maids.”
“Very well.”
“Which of them, Mrs. Waldmere, has charge of this room?” Nick added, turning to her. “I refer to the sweeping and dusting.”