"In the first place, sir," he began, never raising his eyes from the
page, "I have traced the cab sold on the hire-purchase system to a
certain Charles _Mallett..._"
"Ha, ha!" laughed Max breezily--"he calls me a hammer! It is not
Mallett, Sergeant Sowerby--you have got too many _l's_ in that name;
it is Malet and is called like one from the Malay States!"
"Oh," commented Sowerby, glancing up--"indeed. Very good, sir. The
owner claims the balance of purchase money!"
Every one laughed at that, even the satanic Assistant Commissioner.
"Pay your debts, M. Max," he said. "You will bring the Service de
Surete into bad repute! Carry on, Sergeant."
"This cab," continued Sowerby, when Dunbar interrupted him.
"Cut out the part about the cab, Sowerby," he said. "We've found that
out from M. Max. Have you anything to report about the yellow car?"
"Yes," replied Sowerby, unperturbed, and turning over to the next
page. "It was hired form Messrs. Wickers' garage, at Canning Town, by
the week. The lady who hired it was a Miss Dorian, a French lady. She
gave no reference, except that of the Savoy Hotel, where she was
stopping. She paid a big deposit and had her own chauffeur, a colored
man of some kind.
"Is it still in use by her?" snapped Dunbar eagerly.
"No, Inspector. She claimed her deposit this morning and said she was
leaving London."
"The cheque?" cried Dunbar.
"Was cashed half an hour later."
"At what bank?"
"London County & Birmingham, Canning Town.
Pages:
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158