"This house in West Kensington is an empty one, and must have been taken by The Spider for my temporary prison. I must ascertain from the landlord who took it, and thus we may learn something about the looks of The Spider."
"You think he took the house himself: applied to the landlord, that is?"
"Yes, and no; he may have done so, or one of his gang may have rented the house. But if we can catch the person who _did_ see the landlord, we may learn something about The Spider, if indeed the tenant was not the man himself."
"Well"--Drench scratched his head thoughtfully--"there is something in that, Mr. Vernon. But The Spider is so clever that you may be sure he has made himself safe. You think he heads a gang?"
"I am certain, and the woman who played such a clever comedy to inveigle me into the kitchen is one of the gang."
"Perhaps The Spider himself, in disguise?"
"You may be right, as, of course, since I was captured about nine o'clock, there was plenty of time for him to change and get to Hampstead by eleven."
"Moreover, he was a quarter of an hour late," suggested Drench, "but it puzzles me, sir, to think how your trap business came to his ears."
Vernon looked regretfully at the dead man in the chair. "Perhaps Mr. Dimsdale may have talked," he remarked. "I said nothing. But we shall never know now----"
"Until we lay hands on The Spider and force him to confess," ended Drench, nodding. "By the way, I suppose some reward will be offered for his apprehension by Miss Dimsdale? I understand she is rich."
"It's very probable, as she inherits her father's money--about ten thousand a year, it must be."
The Inspector whistled. "That's a tidy fortune," he said meditatively. "I expect the reward will be a large one."
"I expect so also," rejoined Vernon, understanding clearly what was meant, "and if we learn the truth about this crime and capture The Spider you can have the reward all to yourself."
"But you're a professional, Mr. Vernon, and have to make your money."
"I don't want it in this case. The Spider made use of a certain lady's name to inveigle me to West Kensington, and I mean to be even with him."
"Miss Corsoon. I think you mentioned Miss Corsoon."
"Yes, only you needn't talk about it outside your office," said Vernon hastily. "I don't want her to be mixed up in this business. Also, I am not very proud of having been trapped in this way."