“It is a perfect conversational windfall.”
“I hope, for your sake, my dear boy, the Rullington case will not come on till the Lancashire has talked itself out.”
Herriard laughed. “It promises to do so, unless it gets a second wind from some sensational development.”
Gastineau shook his head. “I don’t see much chance of that.”
“No,” Herriard agreed. “Only the finding of the owner of the discovered weapon.”
“Have you heard any rumour of that?” the question came sharply.
“Oh, nothing tangible,” Herriard answered. “Of course, everybody thinks it necessary and smart to have a theory.”
“And names are mentioned?”
“Oh, yes. Half the smart women in town are pointed at, many of whom were not even at the ball.”
Gastineau laughed confidently. “Then there is safety in numbers—for the real culprit. Our old friend, no doubt, the spretæ injuria formæ for motive. Well, let us hope two things, one that for the lady’s sake it won’t come out further, and, secondly, if it does, that Geoffrey Herriard will be retained for the defence.”