“I thought it might be a new scheme of dots,” said Tommy. Then he gave a slight shiver. “My word, Tuppence, how creepy it makes one feel. To think that you and I were discussing dots and puzzling over that advertisement—all as lighthearted as anything.”
Tuppence did not answer. Tommy looked at her, and was startled to observe that she was staring ahead of her, her mouth slightly open, and a bewildered expression on her face.
“Tuppence,” said Tommy gently, shaking her by the arm. “What’s the matter with you? Are you just going to have a stroke or something?”
But Tuppence remained motionless. Presently she said in a far away voice.
“Denis Riordan.”
“Eh?” said Tommy staring.
“It’s just as you said. One simple innocent remark! Find me all this week’s Daily Leader s.”
“What are you up to?”
“I’m being McCarty. I’ve been worrying round, and thanks to you, I’ve got a notion at last. This is the front sheet of Tuesday’s paper. I seem to remember that Tuesday’s paper was the one with two dots in the L of Leader . This has a dot in the D of Daily —and one in the L too. Get me the papers and let’s make sure.”
They compared them anxiously. Tuppence had been quite right in her remembrance.
“You see? This fragment wasn’t torn from Tuesday’s paper.”
“But Tuppence, we can’t be sure. It may merely be different editions.”