He jumped for the telephone; asked for Greyne 23; was put through at once; thought: “Wonder who’ll answer?” then heard the “Hallo” of a servant.
“Miss Masterson in?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. What name shall I say?”
He told her. Waiting, he grew excited. If by any chance he was right, here was yet more confirmation of his theory.
Dora Masterson’s voice came to his ears. “Hallo. Is that Mr. Gethryn? I——”
Anthony interrupted. “Yes. I wonder whether you can help me. The second time I was in your house I picked up a book. Little green book. Soft leather binding. Essays. Pleasantly written. One was called ‘Love at First Sight.’ Author’s name on title-page was a woman’s. D’you know the book I mean?”
“Is it one called Here and There?”
“Yes, now who wrote it? Was it really a woman? And is that her real name? I meant to ask at the time, but forgot.”
3
At twenty minutes to two that afternoon, Anthony stopped his car outside The Owl’s office. He had broken no record this time; his mind had been much occupied on the journey. The interviews he had held with Belford, Mabel Smith, and Elsie Syme before leaving Abbotshall had given him food for thought.