«Not officially,» said Lord Peter. «I am investigating the matter privately, in the interests of one of the parties.»
Mr. Crimplesham rose to his feet.
«My good man,» he said, «this is a very impudent attempt, but blackmail is an indictable offence, and I advise you to leave my office before you commit yourself.» He rang the bell.
«I was afraid you'd take it like that,» said Lord Peter. «It looks as though this ought to have been my friend Detective Parker's job, after all.» He laid Parker's card on the table beside the specification, and added: «If you should wish to see me again, Mr. Crimplesham, before to-morrow morning, you will find me at the Minster Hotel.»
Mr. Crimplesham disdained to reply further than to direct the clerk who entered to «show this person out.»
In the entrance Lord Peter brushed against a tall young man who was just coming in, and who stared at him with surprised recognition. His face, however, aroused no memories in Lord Peter's mind, and that baffled nobleman, calling out Bunter from the newspaper shop, departed to his hotel to get a trunk-call through to Parker.
Meanwhile, in the office, the meditations of the indignant Mr. Crimplesham were interrupted by the entrance of his junior partner.
«I say,» said the latter gentleman, «has somebody done something really wicked at last? What ever brings such a distinguished amateur of crime on our sober doorstep?»
«I have been the victim of a vulgar attempt at blackmail,» said the lawyer; «an individual passing himself off as Lord Peter Wimsey — »
«But that is Lord Peter Wimsey,» said Mr. Wicks, «there's no mistaking him. I saw him give evidence in the Attenbury emerald case. He's a big little pot in his way, you know, and goes fishing with the head of Scotland Yard.»