Heldon Foyle made a little gesture of dissent. "I don't think it likely.
It would double the danger of identification. But we can soon find if
she's gone back to her home. I told Taylor, who is watching in Berkeley
Square, to report when she returned." He touched a bell and put a
question to the man who entered.
"Yes, sir," was the reply. "He rang up half an hour ago. You told me I
wasn't to disturb you. He reported Lady Eileen Meredith had just gone
in."
"There you are, then, Green," said Foyle. "That point's settled. You get
along. I wish I could come with you, but it won't do for me to leave
London just now, and goodness knows where you may have to finish up.
Good-bye and good luck."
When Green had gone, Foyle gave a few instructions to cover the points
that had arisen, and walked to Sir Hilary Thornton's room. The Assistant
Commissioner looked up and proffered a cigar. "Think of the angels," he
said. "I was just wondering how things were going."
"Things are straightening out a bit," said the superintendent. "It's
been a busy day, and it's not over yet." And, puffing a ring of smoke
into the air, he told in bare, unadorned fashion the events of the day.
"It has been a narrow thing for Grell," he concluded. "Even now, I fancy
we shall get him. Green's as tenacious as a bull-dog when he's got
something to take hold of."
With his hands thrust deep in his trousers pockets, Sir Hilary strode to
and fro across the room. "It's time we got a bit forward," he said. "The
adjourned inquest will come on again soon, and we shan't be able to keep
the question of identity up our sleeves any longer."
"There's a week yet," answered Foyle. "I don't think it will much matter
what is revealed then."
The Assistant Commissioner came to a halt. "You're not a man to be
over-confident, Foyle," he explained. "Do you feel pretty certain of
having Grell under arrest by that time? I've not interfered with you
hitherto, but for heaven's sake be careful. It won't do to make a
mistake--especially with a man of Grell's standing."
Heldon Foyle lifted his shoulders deprecatingly. "It all depends upon an
idea I have, sir. I am willing to take all responsibility."
"You're still convinced that Grell is guilty?"
"I am convinced that he knows all about the murder," answered Foyle
ambiguously. "With the help of Pinkerton's, I've traced his history back
for the last twenty-five years. He's had his hands in some queer
episodes in his time before he became a millionaire. There are gaps
which we can't fill up, of course, but we're pretty complete. There was
one thing in his favour. Although he's known toughs in all corners of
the world, he's never been mixed up in any dirty business. And as he's
carried out one or two political missions for the United States, I
suppose he's had to know some of these people. To-morrow or the next
day, I expect to have the records of both Ivan Abramovitch and Condit.
It will all help, though the bearing on the murder is perhaps indirect."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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