was still refusing to explain. Roger told the others what had happened since he had left Welbeck Street and found time to explain the visit of Mrs Sylvester Cartier and the Society of European Relief. They heard him out without comment, although Mark was scowling and Janet frowning.
“So we’ve got to nurse the girl to a better frame of mind,” Roger said, “because she can probably give us the key to much of it, although she’ll almost certainly be in some danger.”
“That’s fairly obvious,” Janet said. “Are you going to ask for police protection for her?”
“I don’t think so, yet. I think if she were to be interviewed by Abbott she’d collapse. He would be the finishing touch. For the time being I think it had better be unofficial. We won’t be able to get any help from Pep, but we can use one or two of his men. Then there’s this chap Tennant. That should be enough.”
Mark said thoughtfully : “I rather like the sound of Tennant. I wish I’d seen him handle Malone !”
Soberly, Roger commented :
“He’s made a bad enemy there; if only for the sake of revenge, Malone will come after him.”
“Roger,” said Janet, “I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Where?”
“By not telling the Yard everything. No, wait until I’ve finished!” she added as Roger was about to interrupt. “You’ve admitted that Malone is dangerous, and I think if you told them what happened here this afternoon they would arrest him.”
“Even if they couldn’t prove much, they would be able to keep him out of harm’s way,” Mark said, quickly.
“After all, they should be able to do something about what happened this morning,” Janet put in. “You and Tennant can say that he actually attacked him.”
Roger smiled.
“On the evidence of the three of us — always providing Lois would give evidence, which I think is doubtful, we could probably put Malone inside for a week or two, if we could find him. But he’ll know that we might lodge a complaint and he’ll probably keep out of the way. That apart, do we want him under charge?”
“And you’re a policeman!” exclaimed Mark, shocked.
“You know as well as I do that you’ve often been a tower of strength because you could do things which a copper couldn’t. If we put Malone away we may not find a way of getting in touch with the higher-ups in this business, but if we let him run loose we’ll be able to work through him.”
“I suppose that does put a rather different light on it,” Janet conceded. “All right. We’ll do it your way.”
“Thank you,” said Roger, with mock politeness.
“What are you going to do with the girl?” Mark inquired.
“We’ll take her home,” said Janet.
“I see a snag if we do that,” Mark said. “Roger isn’t out of the wood yet and there will be Yard men watching until he is. The Yard will know that the girl is mixed up in the case and I wouldn’t put it past Abbott to demand an interview with her. Besides, you’ve already told him that you’ve found who paid in the money. He’ll jump to conclusions. This isn’t simply an attempt to frame you, old man. It’s a pretty big show.”
“You’re right, of course, but where can we take her?”
“You could use my flat,” Mark said, hopefully.
“Of course, the police wouldn’t think of going there,” Janet said, sarcastically. “
“I don’t see why you shouldn’t go to a hotel,” Roger said. “One of the glitter palaces would be a good idea.”
“Nonsense!” said Janet. “Those places are all doors, and I couldn’t be sure that she wouldn’t run away or that someone wouldn’t come and take her away. Don’t you know of a small place where we could confide in the manager and put one or two of Pep Morgan’s men to guard it? The more central the better, because we’d be close by. I’d stay with her, of course. There must be such a place.”
“I am duly humbled,” said Roger. “It’s a good idea. I think I know a place where they might be able to fix you up. Mark and I would stay at Chelsea.”
“The young woman might have something to say about it, as well as her young man,” Mark observed.
“I think we’ll be able to persuade them,” said Roger. “If they come out before I’m back, introduce yourselves.” He moved towards the door.
“Where are you off to?” demanded Janet.
“Only to the telephone,” Roger told her.
He was back in ten minutes. No one had come from the bedroom but the voices were quieter — whether the couple had decided that it was not worth further argument, or whether they had reached an agreement, Roger could only guess. He told Janet and Mark that he had been able to make arrangements with the proprietor of the Legge Private Hotel, in Buckingham Palace Gate. It was a good-class family hotel where they would be comfortable and where, if necessary, Roger and Mark could stay for the night.
Roger went to the bedroom door and tapped.
“Just a moment,” Bill Tennant called.
There was another murmur of voices before the door opened.
Apparently Lois had realised that she had made a wreck of herself and she had made-up her face quickly. She seemed to take their presence more for granted.
