Several people besides the detectives were beginning to take notice of the oddly assorted group.
“Oh God!” said Tony, “I suppose she's got to come.”
The detectives followed at a distance down the platform.
Tony settled his companions in a pullman car.
“Look,” said Milly, “we're travelling first class.
Isn't that fun?
We can have tea.”
“Can I have an ice?”
“I don't expect they've got an ice.
But you can have some nice tea.”
“But I want an ice.”
“You shall have an ice when you get to Brighton.
Now be a good girl and play with your puzzle or mother won't take you to the seaside again.”
“The Awful Child of popular fiction,” said Jock as he left Tony.
Winnie sustained the part throughout the journey to Brighton.
She was not inventive but she knew the classic routine thoroughly, even to such commonplace but alarming devices as breathing heavily, grunting and complaining of nausea.
Room at the hotel had been engaged for Tony by the solicitors.
It was therefore a surprise to the reception clerk when Winnie arrived.
“We have reserved in your name double and single communicating rooms, bathroom and sitting room,” he said. “We did not understand you were bringing your daughter.
Will you require a further room?”
“Oh Winnie can come in with me,” said Milly.
The two detectives who were standing nearby at the counter, exchanged glances of disapproval.
Tony wrote Mr. and Mrs. Last in the Visitors' Book.
“And daughter,” said the clerk with his finger on the place.
Tony hesitated.
“She is my niece,” he said, and inscribed her name on another line, as Miss Smith.
The detective, registering below, remarked to his colleague,
“He got out of that all right.
Quite smart.
But I don't like the look of this case.
Most irregular.
Sets a nasty, respectable note bringing a kid into it.
We've got the firm to consider.
It doesn't do them any good to get mixed up with the King's Proctor.”
“How about a quick one?” said his colleague indifferently.
Upstairs, Winnie said,
“Where's the sea?”
“Just there across the street.”
“I want to go and see it.”
“But it's dark now, pet.
You shall see it tomorrow.”
“I want to see it tonight.”
“You take her to see it now,” said Tony.
“Sure you won't be lonely?”
“Quite sure.”
“We won't be long.”
“That's all right.
You let her see it properly.”
Tony went down to the bar where he was pleased to find the two detectives.
He felt the need of male company.