“Why is it so important?  You cannot imagine—­”

“No; I endeavour to restrain my imagination.  I want facts.  You are the best person to obtain them.  One relative inquiring for another is a natural proceeding.  It will not arouse suspicions that you are a debt-collector.”

“Suppose I obtain news of his whereabouts?”

“Telegraph to me and I will give you fresh instructions.”

Hume walked to the door.

“Give my kind regards to Miss Layton,” he said grimly.

“I will be delighted.  Work hard.  You will see her all the sooner.”

“There goes a man in love,” continued Brett, addressing the back of Winter’s skull, though looking him straight in the face.  “His career, his reputation, everything he values most in this world is at stake.  He is a sensible, level-headed fellow, who has become embittered by unjust suspicion; yet he would unwillingly let a material item like his cousin’s proceedings sink into oblivion just for the sake of telling a girl that she looks more charming to-day than she did yesterday, or some equally original remark peculiar to love-making.  How do you account for it, Winter?”

“I give it up,” sighed the detective.  “We are all fools where women are concerned.”

“You surprise me,” said the barrister sternly.  “Such a personal confession of weakness is unexpected—­I may say distressing.”

Winter shook his head.

“You’re not married, Mr. Brett, or you wouldn’t talk like that.”

“Well, let it pass.  I want you to make the acquaintance of that loving couple, Mr. and Mrs. Numagawa Jiro.  You must disguise yourself.  Jiro is to be shadowed constantly.  Get any help you require, but do it.  Be off, Winter, on the wings of the wind.  Fasten on to Jiro.  Batten on him.  Become his invisible vampire.  Above all else, discover his associates.  Run now to the bank and cash this cheque.  It repays the sum you advanced last night, and provides money for expenses.”

“I must first see Capella off,” gasped the detective.

“All the more reason that you should fly.”

Left to himself, the barrister compiled memoranda for an hour or more.  He read through what he had written.

“The web is spreading quickly,” he murmured.  “I wonder what sort of fly we shall catch!  Is he buzzing about under our very noses, or will he be an unknown variety?  As they say in the Argentine—­Quien sabe?”

During the journey to Stowmarket he mastered the contents of the bulky document sent from Glen Tochan.  It contained a great many irrelevant details, but he made the following notes:—­