196
DETECTIVE BARNEY
getting into politics, I hear, now—as a reformer.”
“Married?”
“No.”
“Your wife ’s very fond of him?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve not separated? She’s still living with you?”
“She ’s been visiting her brother—lately.”
“Where?”
“At the old family place—up the Hudson. Our boy ’s had trouble with his throat. The winters in the city are bad for him.”
“You did n’t go with them?”
“I ’m not on speaking terms with Van Amberg.”
“These letters have been received by her there?”
“Yes. . . . As a matter of fact, some of them came to the house, here, and I redirected them.”
“I see. Well, I shall have to make a preliminary investigation before I can decide
