The two men shook hands and stared at each other.  Whoever and whatever this man may be, thought Allerdyke, he gives you a straight look and a good grip—­two characteristics which in his opinion went far to establish any unknown individual’s honesty.

“No,” remarked Van Koon.  “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Allerdyke before.  But I’m out a great deal—­I don’t spend much time indoors this fine weather.  You gentlemen know your London well—­I don’t, and I’m putting in all the time I can to cultivate her acquaintance.”

“Been in town long?” asked Allerdyke, wanting to say something and impelled to this apparently trite question by the New Yorker’s own observations.

“Since the first week in April,” answered Van Koon, “And as this is my first visit to England, I’m endeavouring to do everything well.  Fullaway tells me, Mr. Allerdyke, that you come from Bradford, the big manufacturing city up north.  Well, now, Bradford is one of the places on my list—­hullo!” he exclaimed, breaking off short.  “I guess here’s a man who’s wanting you, Fullaway, in a considerable bit of a hurry.”

Fullaway and Allerdyke looked out on to the pavement and saw Blindway, who had just jumped out of a taxi-cab, and was advancing upon them.  He came up and addressed them jointly—­would they go back with him at once to New Scotland Yard?—­the chief wanted to see them for a few minutes.

“Come on, Allerdyke,” said Fullaway.  “We’d better go at once.  Van Koon,” he continued, turning to his compatriot, “do me a favour—­just look in at my rooms upstairs, and tell Mrs. Marlow, if she’s come—­she hadn’t arrived when I was up there ten minutes ago—­that I’m called out for an hour or so—­ask her to attend to anything that turns up until I come back—­shan’t be long.”

Van Koon nodded and walked back into the hotel, while Allerdyke and Fullaway joined the detective in the cab and set out westward.

“What is it?” asked Fullaway.  “Something new?”

“Can’t say, exactly,” replied Blindway.  “The chief’s got some woman there who thinks she can tell something about the French maid, so he sent me for you, and he’s sent another man for Miss Lennard.  It may be something good; it mayn’t.  Otherwise,” he concluded with a shake of the head that was almost dismal, “otherwise, I don’t know of anything new.  Never knew of a case in my life, gentlemen, in which less turned up than’s turning up in this affair!  And fifty thousand pounds going a-begging!”

“I suppose this woman’s after it,” remarked Fullaway.  “You didn’t hear of anything she had to tell?”

“Nothing,” answered Blindway.  “You’ll hear it in a minute or two.”