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ar. Arnold waited until he had finished. Mr. Weatherley himself said little. He seemed to be listening. Towards the end, he nodded slightly. "Yes, I quite understand," he said, "quite. That was entirely my own opinion. No case at all, you say? Good!" He replaced the receiver and leaned back in his chair. For the first time, when he spoke his voice was a little hoarse. "Chetwode," he said, "ring up my house--16, Post Office, Hampstead. Ask Groves to tell his mistress that I thought she might be interested to hear that Mr. Starling will be discharged this morning. The police are abandoning the case against him, at present, for lack of evidence." Arnold stood for a moment quite still. Then he took up the receiver and obeyed his orders. Groves' voice was as quiet and respectful as ever. He departed with the message and Arnold rang off. Then he turned to Mr. Weatherley. "Have you any objection to my ringing up some one else and telling him, too?" he asked. Mr. Weatherley looked at him. "You are like all of them," he remarked. "I suppose you think he's a sort of demigod. I never knew a young man yet that he couldn't twist round his little finger. You want to ring up Count Sabatini, I suppose?" "I should like to," Arnold admitted. "Very well, go on," Mr. Weatherley grumbled. "Let him know. Perhaps it will be as well." Arnold took from his pocket the note which Sabatini had written to him, and which contained his telephone number. Then he rang up. The call was answered by his valet. "In one moment, sir," he said. "The telephone rings into His Excellency's bedchamber. He shall speak to you himself." A minute or two passed. Then the slow, musical voice of Sabatini intervened. "Who is that speaking?" "It is I--Arnold Chetwode," Arnold answered. "I am speaking from the office in the city. I heard some news a few minutes ago which I thought might interest you." "Good!" Sabatini replied, stifling what seemed to be a yawn. "You have awakened me from a long sleep, so let your news be good, my young friend." "Mr. Weatherley hears from a solicitor at Bow Street that the police have abandoned the charge against Mr. Starling," Arnold announced. "He will be set at liberty as soon as the court opens." There was a moment's silence. It was as though the person at the other end had gone away. "Did you hear?" Arnold asked. "Yes, I heard," Sabatini answered. "I am very much obliged to you for ringin
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