Part 19 (2/2)
”I'm a canny little guesser,” Ember admitted modestly.
”Where'd you get your information, then?”
Ember waved a non-committal hand. ”I hear things....”
”Oh, yes--you know a lot. I suppose you could lay this thug by the heels in a brace of shakes?”
”Just about,” Ember admitted placidly. ”I wouldn't mind trying.”
”Then why don't you?” Whitaker demanded heatedly.
”I had a notion you wouldn't want me to.”
Whitaker stared aggressively. ”You mean ... Drummond?”
The answer was a nod.
”I don't believe it.”
”You'll at all events do me the credit to recall that I warned you two months ago.”
”All the same, I don't believe it was Drummond.”
”You haven't missed any property, I believe?”
”No.”
”So presumably the fellow had some motive other than a desire to thieve.
Besides, if he'd been on the loot he might much more easily have tried one of the lower floors--and more sensibly.”
”It would seem so,” Whitaker admitted sulkily.
”And that missing switch-b.u.t.ton--”
”What do _you_ know about that?”
”My sources of information.... It strikes me that a man who took that much trouble to prevent your turning on the light must have been rather anxious to avoid recognition. I shed the inference for its intrinsic worth, merely.”
”Well....” Whitaker temporized.
”And I'd like to know what you mean to do.”
”About what?”
”With the understanding that you're content to leave the case of burglary and a.s.sault to the mercies of the police: what do you mean to do with yourself?”
”I don't know--hadn't thought.”
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