The Duke of York's Steps by Henry Wade — Read

Whether Fratten recognized him or not, the detective could not be certain; he did not appear to look at him, but turned away and walked off at the same pace as before. Poole gave a quick glance at his companion's face and saw that its expression had changed slightly, from astonishment to puzzlement -- there was a slight frown of thought on Inez's brow as her eyes followed Ryland's retreating form.

Poole had to think, and decide, quickly. What was Ryland Fratten doing here? He had said that he did not know the whereabouts of "Daphne"; Inez Fratten presumably had not told him -- she had said that she had not seen Ryland since she picked up Daphne's trail. Could it be that he was in some way connected with the Victory Finance Company? If he were, it was most unlikely that his father had known about it; it was an uncomfortable thought. Should he himself follow Ryland now -- Ryland, who had slipped the police that morning? It would mean losing Daphne, for the time being at any rate -- unless Inez Fratten followed her alone. Poole did not like the idea; if Daphne were really the dangerous woman that Ryland's story indicated, she was capable of playing some desperate trick on anyone who crossed her path; it was a melodramatic thought, but not entirely discountable.