He hastened off, and after a short interval again made his appearance at the front of the house and waved his hand. Meldrum waved back.
“Everything O. K.?” he asked.
“Quite O. K.,” called Needham. “So long, old man. See you later.”
Somewhat puzzled, Meldrum set off in the direction of the town.
On the evening of the next day the telephone in Meldrum’s sitting room tinkled briskly and Norton’s voice came over the line.
“Needham has just ’phoned down,” he said, “and has asked me to go round to his place tonight to get some old African stamps he has hunted out for me. I once asked him if he had any and he promised to get me some. I wish now that I hadn’t asked him.”
He laughed rather nervously, and then added:
“I wish I’d just said ‘no,’ for I don’t much want to go. However I promised to look in for a few minutes. Would you care to come along if I come round for you?”
“Too busy with examination papers just at the moment,” said Meldrum, “and it would bring you out of your way to come over here. It’s after eight o’clock now. I might be free about ten and pick you up when I take my usual stroll. How would that do?”
Norton said, “All right,” and Meldrum hung up the receiver.