Page:Bailey - Call Mr Fortune (Dutton, 1921).djvu/228

Rh corpse. But is Rand missing, Bell? He's not been seen for a few days. There's not much in that. He never used his flat regularly."

"And, so far as we know, deceased isn't Rand."

"Well, I don't know quite as far as that," said Reggie.

"Good Lord, the porter who found him didn't recognize the body."

"Remember his face."

"My God, don't talk about his face."

"Sorry, sorry. Well, I dare say the porter was upset too."

"Yes, but the porter said Rand was biggish, and the body's on the small side. The porter said he had a lot of hair, and the body's absolutely bald."

"My dear chap, give a man a straight back and a bit of manner and lots of fellows think he's biggish—while he's alive. And a man that's absolutely bald is just the man to wear a wig."

"I thought we were to go by facts," Bell said gloomily.

"And so we are, Bell. Just a-going to begin, Mr. Snodgrass, sir. No rash haste."

"Have you got something up your sleeve?"

"Not one little trump. Oh, my dear Bell, how can you? Did I ever? My simple open heart is broken."

"You're damned cheerful, aren't you?"