He beckoned to Joe, who had halted a couple of paces in the rear, and, mounting the steps, the two of them followed the constable into the building. He led the way up the staircase to Marsden's room, where, in response to his knock, the Inspector himself opened the door. Over his shoulder Colin caught sight of another man in plain clothes, who was standing with his back to the fire.
"Come along in, doctor," exclaimed the detective. "I've got some one here you ought to know—Inspector Ainsworth, of the Investigation Department. He has been doing some rather useful work for you during the last twenty-four hours."
Colin shook hands with his new acquaintance, a stout, gray-haired individual, who eyed him with considerable interest.
"And this is our friend Bates, eh?" continued Marsden, turning a sharp glance on Joe. "But where's Miss Seymour? I thought you were going to bring her with you."
"You had better hear what I've got to tell you straight away," said Colin. "Miss Seymour never came to Shadwell this morning. I went up to her flat just before midday, and I found out from the girl next door that someone had called for her in a car at eight o'clock with a letter from her lawyer in Cornwall."
"What, Penwarren?" broke out Marsden. "Impossible! Why, he's seriously ill down at Helston."
"I know," said Colin. "I sent him a wire at once and I've just got the answer. The letter was a forgery.
"And Miss Seymour?" demanded Marsden quickly.
"She went away in the car and nothing has been heard of her since."
Marsden took a couple of paces across the room, and then turned to his colleague.