“Will you come in and have something?”
He looked as if he hoped Patsy would say no, but the detective was glad of any excuse to stick to him.
“Yes,” said Patsy, “don’t care if I do.”
Snell nodded silently, and led the way into the hotel.
As they were passing the desk the clerk spoke to him.
“Mr. Snell,” he said, “there’s a telegram here for you.”
“Excuse me,” said Snell to Patsy, going quickly to the desk.
He took the envelope handed to him, and opened it with trembling fingers.
When he had read the message he crumpled the paper in his hand and frowned.
After a moment of thought, he turned to Patsy, saying, “Excuse me” again, and went with him to the barroom.