"Nice work," said Callaghan. "What was the housemaid like?"
"It wasn't a housemaid. They got a housekeeper there. She's all right too. That dame has nice hips an' ankles that strike right home."
Callaghan said: "Does she know any more?"
Nikolls grinned.
"I got a date with her sometime," he said. "She sorta likes me. Maybe I'll find something else out."
Callaghan said: "I shouldn't worry. You said it was the mother who lived down in Somerset?"
"Yeah," said Nikolls.
He poured out his second shot of whisky.
Callaghan said: "Get through on the telephone. See if you can get her. I want to talk to her."
Nikolls said: "Is this case a secret or do I know somethin' about it?"
Callaghan lit a fresh cigarette. He said:
"I saw Gringall this morning. I asked him what he wanted to see me abou
