“She is a girl,” said Merton, “who is employed by me a good deal.”
“You use her, then, in your work?”
“Yes; she’s as good as a directory. She knows everybody, who they are and what they do.”
“Fetch her back,” said Chick. “We’ll take her in, and she may be of use to us.”
Merton ran after her and brought her back. The four then entered the restaurant.
The place was already more than half full, and there was some difficulty in finding a table which was near enough to Lannigan and the woman who was with him to make observation easy and yet not be too conspicuous.
When, at last, the table was selected, it was found to be well placed for their purpose.
They not only commanded a good view of the table occupied by Lannigan and his companion, but of the whole room.
“Chick,” said Patsy, “Lannigan isn’t broke, by any means. He’s doing the swell caper. Nothing but champagne and Burgundy does him. See him mix the fizz and the red.”
“Nothing less than seven and a half for that tipple,” said Merton.