“I said nothing, sire.”
“But nothing’s something.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“If it wasn’t something then it wouldn’t be in the dictionary. But it’s no use to argue with you. Did you find a clue?”
“Yes, a good one.”
“What is it?”
“He wasn’t in any of the places I gum-shoed to, so consequently they’re eliminated. The deduction I’ve arrived at is that he’s in some other place. As he can only be in one place there’s only one place to find. That’s easy.”
“Of whom are you both talking?” asked Florimel curiously.
“The Red Spirit,” said King Stanislaus. “We’ll catch him yet. But the lovely bride—where is she?”