Francis directed the man to drive to Clarges
Street. As they drove off, he was conscious of a folded piece of
paper in the corner where his late companion had been seated. He
picked it up, opened it, realised that it was a letter from a
firm of lawyers, addressed to Shopland, and deliberately read it
through. It was dated from a small town not far from Hatch End:
DEAR SIR:
Mr. John Phillips of this firm, who is coroner for the
district, has desired me to answer the enquiry contained in
your official letter of the 13th. The number of inquests held
upon bodies recovered from the Thames in the neighbourhood to
which you allude, during the present year has been seven.
Four of these have been identified. Concerning the remaining
three nothing has ever been heard. Such particulars as are on
our file will be available to any accredited representative of
the police at any time.
Faithfully yours,
PHILLIPS & SON.
The taxicab came to a sudden stop. Francis glanced up. Very
breathless, Shopland put his head in at the window.
"I dropped a letter," he gasped.
Francis folded it up and handed it to him.
"What about these three unidentified people, Shopland?" he asked,
looking at him intently.
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