Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/169



Nottidge came back from the telephone alert and eager, beckoning Wedgwood towards the door.

"Come on!" he exclaimed. "There's a man at my house who wants to see me about the advertisement! Let's get up there, sharp!"

"All right," assented Wedgwood. "But give me your telephone number in case anybody calls here for me while I'm out." He left the number and instructions with the station sergeant and followed Nottidge into the street. "Don't be too sanguine about news," he continued as they entered the first passing taxi-cab. "I've been at this game before, you know! You've no idea how an offer like yours rouses the cupidity of people—the sort of people who are always on the look-out for getting a good deal for very little. You'll probably have no end of applications—most of 'em no use whatever!"

"Why no use?" demanded Nottidge impatiently.

"There are thousands of tall, spare women going about London in fur coats!" answered