II

“Oh—er—I say—er—c-could I speak to you a minute?” It was George Bart-lett who thus waylaid the two men. Colonel Melchett, who was not attrac-ted to Mr. Bartlett and who was anxious to see how Slack had got on withthe investigation of the girl’s room and the questioning of the chamber-maids, barked sharply:

“Well, what is it—what is it?”

Young Mr. Bartlett retreated a step or two, opening and shutting hismouth and giving an unconscious imitation of a fish in a tank.

“Well—er—probably isn’t important, don’t you know—thought I oughtto tell you. Matter of fact, can’t find my car.”

“What do you mean, can’t find your car?”

Stammering a good deal, Mr. Bartlett explained that what he meant wasthat he couldn’t find his car.

Superintendent Harper said:

“Do you mean it’s been stolen?”

George Bartlett turned gratefully to the more placid voice.

“Well, that’s just it, you know. I mean, one can’t tell, can one? I meansomeone may just have buzzed off in it, not meaning any harm, if youknow what I mean.”

“When did you last see it, Mr. Bartlett?”

“Well, I was tryin’ to remember. Funny how difficult it is to rememberanything, isn’t it?”

Colonel Melchett said coldly:

“Not, I should think, to a normal intelligence. I understood you to sayjust now that it was in the courtyard of the hotel last night—”

Mr. Bartlett was bold enough to interrupt. He said:

“That’s just it—was it?”

“What do you mean by ‘was it’? You said it was.”

“Well—I mean I thought it was. I mean—well, I didn’t go out and look,don’t you see?”

Colonel Melchett sighed. He summoned all his patience. He said:

“Let’s get this quite clear. When was the last time you saw—actually sawyour car? What make is it, by the way?”

“Minoan 14.”

“And you last saw it—when?”

George Bartlett’s Adam’s apple jerked convulsively up and down.

“Been trying to think. Had it before lunch yesterday. Was going for aspin in the afternoon. But somehow, you know how it is, went to sleep in-stead. Then, after tea, had a game of squash and all that, and a bathe after-wards.”

“And the car was then in the courtyard of the hotel?”

“Suppose so. I mean, that’s where I’d put it. Thought, you see, I’d takesomeone for a spin. After dinner, I mean. But it wasn’t my lucky evening.

Nothing doing. Never took the old bus out after all.”

Harper said:

“But, as far as you knew, the car was still in the courtyard?”

“Well, naturally. I mean, I’d put it there—what?”

“Would you have noticed if it had not been there?”

Mr. Bartlett shook his head.

“Don’t think so, you know. Lots of cars going and coming and all that.

Plenty of Minoans.”

Superintendent Harper nodded. He had just cast a casual glance out ofthe window. There were at that moment no less than eight Minoan 14s inthe courtyard—it was the popular cheap car of the year.

“Aren’t you in the habit of putting your car away at night?” asked Col-onel Melchett.

“Don’t usually bother,” said Mr. Bartlett. “Fine weather and all that, youknow. Such a fag putting a car away in a garage.”

Glancing at Colonel Melchett, Superintendent Harper said: “I’ll join youupstairs, sir. I’ll just get hold of Sergeant Higgins and he can take downparticulars from Mr. Bartlett.”

“Right, Harper.”

Mr. Bartlett murmured wistfully:

“Thought I ought to let you know, you know. Might be important,what?”