"I had guessed something of that sort," he said merely. "I'm glad
to find it confirmed even by hearsay evidence. This red-haired
young lady interests me. Not a very definite description, but
better than nothing at all. I wonder who she is. Ah, well, what
do you say to a stroll down the White Way before I go to my
laboratory? I'd like a breath of air to relax my mind."
We had got no further than the first theatre when Kennedy slapped
me on the back. "By George, Jameson, she's an actress, of
course."
"Who is? What's the matter with you, Kennedy? Are you crazy?"
"The red-haired person--she must be an actress. Don't you
remember the auburn-haired leading lady in the 'Follies'--the
girl who sings that song about 'Mary, Mary, quite contrary'? Her
stage name, you know, is Phoebe La Neige. Well, if it's she who
is concerned in this case I don't think she'll be playing
to-night. Let's inquire at the box-office."
She wasn't playing, but just what it had to do with anything in
particular I couldn't see, and I said as much.
"Why, Walter, you'd never do as a detective. You lack intuition.
Sometimes I think I haven't quite enough of it, either. Why
didn't I think of that sooner? Don't you know she is the wife of
Adolphus Hesse, the most inveterate gambler in stocks in the
System? Why, I had only to put two and two together and the whole
thing flashed on me in an instant.
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