"I mean that it's a common enough phenomenon for a No. 4 lorry to
change, after lunch, let us say, into No. 44. Are you sure it
wasn't 44?"

Merriman joined in the laughter against him.

"It wasn't forty-anything, you old blighter," he said good-humoredly.
"It was 4 on the road, and 3 at the mill, and I'm as sure of it as
that you're an amiable imbecile."

"Inconclusive," murmured Jelfs, "entirely inconclusive. But," he
persisted, "you must not hold back material evidence. You haven't
told us yet what you had at lunch."

"Oh, stow it, Jelfs," said Hilliard, a thin-faced, eager-looking
young man who had not yet spoken. "Have you no theory yourself,
Merriman?"

"None. I was completely puzzled. I would have mentioned it before,
only it seemed to be making a mountain out of nothing."

"I think Jelfs' question should be answered, you know," Drake said
critically, and after some more good-natured chaff the subject
dropped.

Shortly after one of the men had to leave to catch his train, and
the party broke up. As they left the building Merriman found
Hilliard at his elbow.