“I am afraid not, madam. It is against the rules to give private addresses of members of any department.”
“Oh, very well.” She sighed again. “Thank you.”
She replaced the receiver and stood biting her finger thoughtfully. She was making a mental inventory of her many admirers and wondering which of them could help her. Suddenly she came to a decision on the point. Taking up the receiver:
“Victoria 8440, please,” she said.
Still biting one finger she waited, until:
“Foreign office,” announced a voice.
“Please put me through to Mr. Archie Boden-Shaw,” she said.
Ere long that official’s secretary was inquiring her name, and a moment later:
“Is that you, Archie?” said Mollie. “Yes! Mollie speaking. No, please listen, Archie! You can get to know everything at the Foreign office, and I want you to find out for me the private address of Chief Inspector Kerry, who is in charge of the Bond Street murder case. Don’t be silly! I’ve asked Scotland Yard, but they won’t tell me. You can find out.... It doesn’t matter why I want to know.... Just ring me up and tell me. I must know in half an hour. Yes, I shall be seeing you tonight. Good-bye....”
Less than half an hour later, the obedient Archie rang up, and Mollie, all excitement, wrote the following address in a dainty scented notebook which she carried in her handbag.