Page:Bailey - Call Mr Fortune (Dutton, 1921).djvu/33

22 "I am Dr. Fortune."

"Reconstructing the crime, eh? Oh, you needn't be discreet. I'm Lomas—Stanley Lomas—Criminal Investigation Department, don't you know? Sir Lawson Hunter came round to me last night. Patient's doing well, I see. That's providential. Just a momen—just a moment." He skipped away from Reggie to his companion, and they went over the ground. But Reggie thought them very superficial. Lomas skipped back again. "He didn't bleed, then. The other man did, though—the man you found."

"In the middle of the road. And I found him dead in the gutter."

"It's quaint what the criminal don't think of. I'm surprised every time. Did you find anything here?"

Reggie held out his match. "There were two more like that by the other man."

Lomas turned it over. "Belgian make. You buy them all over the Continent, don't you know."

"The Archduchess carries them."

"Now, that's very interesting. If you don't mind I'll walk up to the house with you." Upon the way he praised the beauties of nature and the quality of the morning air.

As they came to the door of Boldrewood a big car passed them with the Archduchess driving alone. Lomas put up his eyeglass. "She's not overcome with grief, what?"