"How long would you make the delay?" Cayley asked.
"At least until after Mr. Wigan and I have visited Whiteladies again. We propose to go there to-morrow."
"I was going down to-morrow after seeing the solicitors about this money," said Sir Michael.
"That will be excellent," said Quarles. "You will be able to assist us in a little investigation we want to make at Whiteladies. May I suggest that you should arrange preliminaries with the solicitors so as not to waste time, but tell them to await your instructions before taking final steps? There may be nothing in our idea, but there may be a great deal in it."
"You do not wish to tell me what it is?"
"Not until to-morrow evening."
I was watching Cayley. I saw the ghost of a smile on his lips for a moment. He evidently saw through Quarles's reticence, and knew that the professor would not speak before him.
"It will be evening before we reach Whiteladies," Quarles went on, "because there is an important inquiry we must make in London first."
"Very well," said Sir Michael. "I will delay until to-morrow night."
"There can be no harm in that," Cayley said. "We are given forty-eight hours. I should like to do the scoundrels, but I cannot forget that revenge may be as much a motive as money."