"Why, this is nonsense."
"Perhaps so," said Nick, "but you will admit that I would be false to my duty if I did not make an investigation."
"Investigate all you wish," laughed Jones. "But don't bother me any more than you have to. This is my busy day."
"I'm going right away," said Nick. "All I want of you is that you will give me your address, and meet me at your home in the latter part of the afternoon."
"Very well," said Jones, and he scribbled on a piece of paper. "I'll be there at half-past four o'clock."
Nick thanked Mr. Jones for his courtesy, and immediately withdrew. But he did not go far.
In a convenient doorway he wrote a note to Chick, on the back of the scrap of paper which Jones had given him, and sealed it in an envelope.
Then he sent Gaspard with it to Chick, who was on the lookout in the undertaker's room, where the body lay.
Having dispatched this message, Nick changed his disguise and kept watch over the establishment of Allen, Morse & Jones.
Nothing of importance happened until a little after noon, when a reply came from Chick.