“When we get back to the hotel, inspector, I think we'll interview the Fleetwood family. They've had quite long enough to polish their speeches by this time. But I'll give you one hint—and I mean it, inspector. Don't be too sure about that case of yours. And don't let your zeal run away with you when you come to question the Fleetwoods. You're on very slippery ice; and, if you get their backs up too much, we may fail to get a piece of evidence out of them which is essential.” The inspector considered this in silence for a few moments. Quite obviously he did not like being handled in this fashion. “Well, sir,” he conceded at last, “if you think I'm likely to bungle something because I don't know what it is, why not give me a hint?” “Mr. Wendover could do that, I think, if you cared to ask him, inspector.” Armadale turned round to Wendover with ill-concealed sulkiness. “Have you something up your sleeve, sir?” Wendover took no notice of the ungracious tone. He saw his way to achieve his end without the difficulties he had feared. “You've got no case at all, inspector,” he said roundly. “Sir Clinton told you long ago that there was a flaw in it. The whole thing's a wash-out. Now I don't want to have you walking straight into a mess, you understand; and you'll do that if you aren't careful. Suppose we let Sir Clinton do the talking at this interview? He'll get what he wants. You and I can ask any questions we choose after he's done. And after it's all over I'll show you the flaw in your case. Agree to that?” “I really think Mr. Wendover's suggestion is sound, inspector,” Sir Clinton interposed, as Armadale hesitated over accepting the situation. “It's a fact that you can't prove your case on the evidence available.” “Oh, very well, then,” Armadale agreed, rather resentfully. “If you want it handled so, sir, I've no objection. But it seems to me that case will take a lot of breaking.” “It's quite on the cards that this interview will stiffen you in your opinions, inspector; but you're wrong for all that,” Sir Clinton pronounced, in a voice that carried conviction to even the inspector's mind. Chapter XIII Cressida's Narrative Reassured by the knowledge that Sir Clinton had taken the examination of Cressida out of the inspector's hands, Wendover was eager to know if anything fresh would be elicited from the Fleetwoods which might help him to carry his theories to a further stage. Feeling sure that he could clear Cressida from the murder charge, he had difficulty in restraining his impatience during the half-hour which elapsed before they were shown into the Fleetwood suite.