Markham gave him every detail and also informed him
ofLeander Pfyfe.
He was busy cutting and lightinghis cigar. Frank
Crane to a problemin spherical trigonometry. Clair opened her vanity case
andpowdered her nose. Y know, I was afraid for a moment youwere actully going to
send for the manacles. Tracy ran down the owner of the handbag and found outshed
been to dinner with Benson that night. I have my own, thank you, she informed
him.
Vance assumed an air of gushing
credulousness.
But, despite your superiordistrust, its good
corroboratory evidence nevertheless. Ive asked myself the same question a dozen
times since, sheconfessed dolefully.
Im sorry, said Markham, but it is necessary that I
keep them forthe present.
Think of theopportunities we have every day to
murder people we dislike!
They either dont knowanything or theyre giving a
swell imitation of a lot of clams.
Markham stood up, controlling himself with effort.
He was short, a trifle stout,and exuded an atmosphere of studied suavity. And if you
attempt to leave, you WILL be arrested. The mind inclined to what is false rejects
the nobler course,murmured Vance, with a sigh.
Butalmost immediately she had reassumed her role of
playfulindifference. His name is Leander Pfyfe, and he lives, I think,at Port
Washington. Well, Im most certainly going to question her, replied Markhamfirmly,
glancing at his watch.
Oh, on the contrry, Vances tone was unruffled.
Markham adopted an attitude of affable forbearance. This weird notion is even
explained on somerecondite and misty psychological ground. There were also several
filing cabinets in the roomand a large safe. If you can find him in the telephone
book, you neednt godown personally.
The cigarettebutts may, y know, be evidence of a
previous conversazione. Nobody couldve done it but a burglar who didnt know good
oldAl. You were very kind to lend me my cigarette holder, she saidpleasantly, laying
it on his desk.