"
"I'll detain you no longer than is essential.... Of course you understand
how keen we are after this man, Anisty."
"What puzzles me," Maitland interrupted, "is how you got wind of the affair
so soon."
"Then you have not heard?" Mr. Snaith exhibited polite surprise.
"I am just out of bed."
"Anisty escaped shortly after you left Maitland Manor."
"Ah!"
Mr. Snaith knitted his brows, evidently at a loss whether to ascribe
Maitland's exclamation as due to surprise, regret, or relief. Which pleased
Maitland, who had been at pains to make his tone noncommittal. In point of
fact he was neither surprised nor regretful.
"Thunder!" he continued slowly. "I forgot to 'phone Higgins."
"That is why I called. Your butler did not know where you could be found.
You had left in great haste, promising to send constables; you failed to do
so; Higgins got no word. In the course of an hour or so his charge began to
choke,--or pretended to. Higgins became alarmed and removed the gag.
Anisty lay quiet until his face resumed its normal color and then began to
abuse Higgins for a thick-headed idiot."
Mr. Snaith interrupted himself to chuckle lightly.
"You noticed a resemblance?" he resumed.
Maitland, too, was smiling. "Something of the sort."
"It is really remarkable, if you will permit me to say so." Snaith was
studying his host's face intently. "Higgins, poor fellow, had his faith
shaken to the foundations. This Anisty must be a clever actor as well as a
master burglar.
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