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“Is that Claridge’s? Put me on to the hall-porter. ... Hullo! ... This is Forsyth and Co., solicitors. ... Yes, Mr. Forsyth.... I understand a lady calling herself ‘Miss Townshend,’ has been asking for Mr. Pardoner.... Yes? ... Sitting in the hall now, is she? Good. Tell her that he will be there to see her at three o’clock.... Right.... Good-bye.”

“But, look here,” said Virgil, “I’m not going to——”

“Yes, you are,” said Forsyth. “You’re going to be in the lounge. Two of my clerks are going to be there also. One of these is going to take your name in vain. He’s going to meet the lady and say he’s you. Of course, it may not come off, but it’s worth trying. If it does, we’ve got her cold. There’s the evidence of a spare clerk and the hall-porter, to say she took John Snooks for Virgil Pardoner. You must be there yourself, to have a look at her. If, having seen her, you’ve anything more to say, say it to the spare clerk. And to-night you must leave for Lincolnshire. The real Miss Townshend must know the facts of the case, and we obviously can’t trust the post. If all goes well, she won’t be needed, but if there’s any hitch, she’ll have to be produced.”