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Philp did not wait to speak to Macrae after the court had risen, but made his way at once towards his lodgings, where he found Peterson awaiting him. The latter had been away for the last day or two on some private business, and was back again now, prepared to go into the matter of the mysterious coat.
"Ah, here you are," Philp said. "Sit down and help yourself to a cigarette and we will get to business. My client has just been before the magistrates, and the case has been adjourned for a fortnight. That should give us ample time. And now, before I get back to the matter in hand, I want to ask you to keep an eye upon a man named Lidgett who lives in one of the slums here. He is a sort of working gardener, though it's precious little work he does, especially if there is any drink about. I want you to find him out and try and pump him in the congenial atmosphere of some fifth-rate pub. But perhaps I had better tell you what he told the magistrates, so that you can understand what you have to do. I don't say Lidgett will be any sort of help to us, but he may. It is just possible that he is acting as somebody's tool. Now listen."