Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/143

 Now listen and I'll put it as briefly as I can."

He went on to summarize the result of his investigations, and Nottidge sat silent, watching him intently. The detective noticed that the pipe went out, but its owner kept the stem between his teeth, biting hard on it

"So—there it is, Mr. Nottidge!" concluded Wedgwood, spreading his hands as he made an end of his story. "Now you know as much as I do! And I'm bound to say that it looks to me as if there's been—I don't like to say or think foul play, but some concerted action on the part of the people—person, perhaps, or persons—who got rid of Wraypoole to get hold of Miss Mortover. My opinion is that the woman who called on her here night before last lured her off somewhere on some very plausible pretext, and that she's detained against her will."

Nottidge got off the table and began to button his coat.

"What can you do about it?" he asked in a tense voice.

"We can start—and we will start—what used to be called the hue-and-cry for her," replied Wedgwood. "Notify her as missing, you know."