Should you require further information about
Maraquito's love, I refer you to herself."
"Oh, I am not interested enough in the matter to ask her,"
said the detective, and bowing to the lady who had sunk on the
sofa, took his departure. A strange idea occurred to him,
suggested by the agitation of Mrs. Herne.
When he met Drudge, who was partaking of a glass of gin, he
gave him instructions to watch the Hampstead house and follow
Mrs. Herne when she came out. Then having posted his spy--
for Drudge was nothing else--Jennings hurried back to town.
That same evening he sent a wire to Cuthbert to the address
given by the servant, asking him to come up to town next
morning.
At eleven Jennings presented himself and found Cuthbert
waiting for him, rather surprised and agitated. "Why did you
wire me in so peremptory a manner?" asked Mallow; "have you
discovered anything?"
"Yes! I am sorry to break your holiday. By the way, you have
been at Brighton. Did you stop at the Metropolitan?"
"Yes. I and Uncle Caranby have been there for a few days."
"Did you see Mrs. Herne there?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
"For a reason I'll tell you later." Jennings glanced round
the room and his eyes became fixed on a trophy of arms. "You
are fond of these sort of things?" he demanded.
"Yes, in a way. Yonder are war-spears, revolvers, swords, and--"
"I see--I see. Here is an empty space. What was here?"
"By Jove, I never noticed that before.
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