Colin received the news with apparent calmness. "Really!" he observed. "Well, I ought to be able to stand them. I've had plenty of practice one way and another."
Marsden turned to a memorandum tablet that was lying on his desk, and studied it for a moment in silence.
"I want you all three to be here at two o'clock to-morrow punctually," he said, "you and this man Bates and Miss Seymour." He picked up a pencil. "By the way, has Miss Seymour any other Christian name besides Nancy?"
Colin shook his head. "Not that I know of."
"And her exact age?"
"She will be nineteen on the third of February." Marsden jotted down his reply, and then sat frowning thoughtfully at the pad.
"I suppose there's no more information you can give me in connection with her—no little fact or detail that you've forgotten to mention?"
Colin reflected. "By Jove, yes!" he exclaimed suddenly. "I've never told you that we're going to be married."
Allowing for the Inspector's naturally reserved manner, the effect of these few words was extraordinary. He pushed back his chair, stared for a moment half incredulously, and then, slapping his knee, broke into a loud and prolonged chuckle of laughter.
Before either of them could speak again there was a tap outside, and an apologetic constable presented himself in the doorway.