“Well, he’s all right now, you know. You see, we—I felt rather sorry—fellow’s seedy and no one to look after him. We felt rather that we owed him something for false suspicion, what? Hope you don’t mind my taking charge.”
“Mind? I’m very grateful! You’re an excellent man. But why the hesitancy, the embarrassment? Why all this we—I—us—we? I become aware of a rat.”
“Because I’ve done it!” roared the telephone ecstatically. “I’ve asked her. I’m going to be married. She——”
“One moment. Miss Warren, I gather?”
“Yes!” cried the telephone. “Congratulate me!”
“I pound your spirit on the back. Tell Miss Warren this is the only mistake I’ve ever known her to make. I’ll offer my felicitations in person to-morrow. Now, listen.”
“Right.”
“I want you,” said Anthony, “to come down here—you’ll find it best to do it by car—to-morrow and attend the inquest. It’s being held at the house—Abbotshall—and it begins at eleven o’clock in the morning. If you bring Miss Warren with you, please ask her whether she will take a complete shorthand note of the proceedings. If she can’t come, get an ordinary shorthand person. I’d rather she did it, of course. After the inquest go to the Bear and Key in Marling and ask for me. I shall want to pump you. Got that?”
“Very good, sergeant.”
“If you see me at the house during the inquest don’t speak to me or do anything to attract attention to me. Got it?”