Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/238

 moment finishing a late lunch at the South-Western Hotel and he's arranged with the hall-porter to send his light luggage across to the steamer at precisely half-past three. Cute chap, Thomas Wraypoole, my lad!"

He laughed and turned away to a uniformed man who was awaiting him, and Stainsby went out into the street with the two detectives.

"What did Wedgwood mean by saying that Thomas Wraypoole's a cute man?" he asked suddenly. "What's he been showing any cuteness about?"

The two men exchanged glances and laughed quietly.

"He meant that Wraypoole's cute enough not to go abroad till the last minute," replied one. "Slip through when things are busiest, eh?"

"Oh!" exclaimed Stainsby. That had not struck him. "There's one thing I should advise you to be careful about," he went on after a pause. "Wraypoole's not the sort to stick at anything if he gets in a tight hole!"

"Ah!" said the other detective, dryly. "We'll bear that in mind! Likely to have anything nasty on him?"

"I don't know," answered Stainsby. "He may have a revolver for all I know. And he