“Mr. Wright,” she said presently, “I’m going to tell you something that Jay has just told me. I want your advice ...”
The boy looked at her interrogatively. But he did not speak.
“I think this is rather important,” the girl went on, “but I don’t quite understand in what way it is. Jay tells me that Mr. Parrish had on his pistol a sort of steel fitting attached to the end ... you know, the part you shoot out of. Mr. Parrish used to keep his automatic in a drawer in his dressing-room, and Jay has often seen it there with this attachment fitted on. Well, when Mr. Parrish was discovered in the library yesterday, this thing was no longer on the pistol. And Jay says it’s not to be found!...”
“That’s rather strange!” commented Bruce. “But what was this steel contraption for, do you know? Was it a patent sight or something?”
“Jay doesn’t know,” answered the girl.
“Would you mind if I spoke to Jay myself?” asked the young man.
In reply the girl touched the bell beside the fireplace. Bude answered the summons and was despatched to find Jay. He appeared in due course, a tall, dark, sleek young man wearing a swallow-tail coat and striped trousers.
“How are you, Jay?” said Bruce affably.
“Very well, thank you, sir,” replied the valet.
“Miss Trevert was telling me about this appliance which you say Mr. Parrish had on his automatic. Could you describe it to me?”