He looked in at Grape Street before proceeding to Streetly House, to pick up such fresh threads as might have been collected during his absence. There was the inevitable string of reports, some entirely valueless, some which might become of importance or futile in the light of future events. He sifted them through rapidly. Here was the statement that Malone had taken from the bank cashier. Here was a plan drawn by a police surveyor of Streetly House. Here was the report⁠—very sketchy⁠—of Larry Hughes’ movements for the last week. Here were other reports of the recent doings of certain notabilities of the underworld. Not only had the C.I.D. men been busy, but their jackals, the “informants,” had been whipped up in force. The dragnet had been cast over London, and here on Labar’s desk was the result.

He paused over two things. One was an abrupt note from Winter. “Have you noticed this? It is from Monday’s Times .”

Pasted on a sheet of paper was a cutting from the personal column.