Mr. Manderton was now thoroughly alert.
“How did you find that out?” he asked.
“Jay, Parrish’s man, came forward and volunteered this evidence ...”
“He said nothing about it when I questioned him,” grumbled the detective.
Robin laughed.
“You’re a terror to the confirmed criminal, they tell me, Manderton,” he said, “but you obviously don’t understand that complicated mechanism known as the domestic servant. No servant at Harkings will voluntarily tell you anything ...”
Mr. Manderton, who had stood up, shook his big frame impatiently.
“Explain the rest of your theories,” he said harshly. “What’s all this about blackmail being levied from Holland?”
Then Robin Greve told him of the letters written on the slatey-blue paper and of their effect upon Parrish, and of the letter headed, “Elias van der Spyck & Co., General Importers, Rotterdam,” which had lain on the desk in the library when Parrish’s dead body had been found.
Manderton nodded gloomily.