CHAPTER VI 

THE ECHO OF A CRIME 

"Macheson, by Jove! Where on earth have you sprung from?" 

Holderness threw down his pen and held out both his hands. Macheson drew a long sigh of relief. 

"From the pigsties, Dick. Whew! It's good to see you again--to be here!" 

Holderness surveyed his friend critically. 

"What have you been up to?" he asked. "Look washed out, as though you'd had a fever or something. I've been expecting to see you every day." 

"I've been on a pleasure trip to Paris," Macheson answered. "Don't talk about it, for God's sake." 

Holderness roared with laughter. 

"You poor idiot!" he exclaimed. "Been on the razzle-dazzle, I believe. I wish I'd known. I'd have come." 

"It's all very well to laugh," Macheson answered. "I feel like a man who's been living in a sewer." 

"Are you cured?" Holderness asked abruptly. 

Macheson hesitated. As yet he had not dared to ask himself that question. Holderness watched the struggle in his face. 

"I'm sorry I asked you that," he said quietly. "Look here! I know what you've come to me for, and I can give it you. You can start at once if you like." 

"Work?" Macheson asked eagerly. "You mean that?" 

"Of course! Tons of it! Henwood's at his wits' end in Stepney. He's started lecturing, and the thing's taken on, but he can't go on night after night. We don't want anything second-rate either. Then I want help with the paper." 

"I'll help you with the paper as soon as you like," Macheson declared. "I'd like to go to Stepney, too, but could we hit it, Henwood and I?" 
Where has Macheson been?
Who is he talking to?
What did he offer him?
What would he be doing?
Who would he be helping in Stepney?
Was there lots of work?
What was Henwood doing?
Was it successful?
Was he going to do it?
Sorry, was he going to do the work?
When would he start?
Did he consider Macheson to be first-rate?
Did he look well?
What did Holderness think he had?
How did his trip to Paris make him feel?
Where did he feel like he had been?
Did Holderness know he was going to Paris?
What would he have done had he known?
How often did Holderness expect to see him?
Why did he go to Paris?
Paris
"I've been on a pleasure trip to Paris
Holderness
Holderness asked
Work.
 You can start at once if you like." 

"Work?"
Helping with the paper.
Then I want help with the paper.
Henwood
could we hit it, Henwood and I
yes
Tons of it!
lecturing
He's started lecturing
yes
the thing's taken on
unknown
unknown
yes
I'll help you with the paper as soon as you like
As soon as Holderness likes.
I'll help you with the paper as soon as you like
yes
We don't want anything second-rate either
no
Look washed out
a fever
as though you'd had a fever
not well
"Don't talk about it, for God's sake."
in a sewer
I feel like a man who's been living in a sewer.
no
 I wish I'd known.
Gone with him.
I wish I'd known. I'd have come
every day
 I've been expecting to see you every day
For a pleasure trip.
I've been on a pleasure trip to Paris