Colin searched in his pocket and pulled out the report which Marsden had given him.
"That makes my job a bit easier," he remarked.
She gazed curiously at the slip of paper.
"What's that?" she demanded.
Colin sat back, still holding it in his hand.
"I've been doing a quite unpardonable sort of thing, Nancy," he said. "Before I tell you, will you promise to forgive me?"
"Certainly," she said, smiling. "I can always forgive anything that's really unpardonable. It makes one feel so nice and generous."
Without waiting for further encouragement Colin plunged at once into a full description of how he had taken advantage of the Inspector's half-joking offer to make some inquiries with regard to Fenton's character and reputation. He told the whole story quite simply, allowing his own motives in the matter to be taken for granted, and ended by reading her the report.
Nancy, who had listened to him gravely, made no comment until he had finished.
Then with a quaint and rather rueful little laugh she looked up into his face.