Part 34 (2/2)
”Then you simply go by your impressions of people?”
”Far from it. A complete absence of motive would force me to acquit even the most promising looking blackguard, unless of course there were some form of lunacy in his case. One must have motive and one must have evidence as well, but character is the short cut--if the circ.u.mstances permit you to use it. Sometimes of course they don't, but in this case they force me to depend on it very largely. Therefore I want to see Sir Malcolm Cromarty.”
The lawyer shook his head.
”No, no, Mr. Carrington,” he said, ”I can't bring him down here on such trivial grounds.”
”But you yourself suspect him!”
For a moment the lawyer was silent.
”I think suspicion points to him; but what is wanted is _evidence_. You can't get evidence merely by bringing him here. You don't suppose he will confess, do you?”
”Have you ever studied the French methods of getting at the truth?”
enquired Carrington, and when Simon shook his head contemptuously, he added with some significance: ”We can learn a good deal from our neighbours.”
”Trivial grounds!” muttered Simon. ”No, no!”
Carrington became unusually serious and impressive.
”I am investigating this case, Mr. Rattar, and I want to see Sir Malcolm. Will you send for him or not?”
”He wouldn't come.”
”It depends on the urgency of the message.”
”I can't invent bogus urgent messages to my clients.”
Carrington smiled.
”I might do the inventing for you.”
Again the lawyer stared at him and again there was the same extreme caution in his eye, mingled with a hint of suspicion.
”I'll think about it,” he said.
”I want to see him immediately.”
”Call again to-morrow morning.”
Carrington's manner altered at once into his usual easy-going air.
”Very well, then, Mr. Rattar,” said he as he rose.
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