Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/145



For a moment the detective stood staring at the door through which Nottidge had vanished. Then he laughed softly.

"That chap's in love!" he murmured. "He means business! Well"

Going out into the hall he rapped on the panelling at the head of the stair; the landlady put her head out of a door at its foot.

"He's gone, ma'am," said Wedgwood. "Just a word with you before I go. If Miss Mortover should return here," he went on as the woman rejoined him, "you must communicate with me—here's my card—at once."

"I'm sure I should be very glad to see her back!" said the landlady. "It would relieve me of a deal of anxiety. You don't know into whose hands she may have fallen—a quiet, well-behaved girl like that!"

"Nice girl, is she?" suggested Wedgwood.

"One of the nicest, mister!" affirmed the landlady. "I never saw anything but the nicest disposition in her!"

"Well, we'll do our best to find her," said