To-day, however, the Chief seemed strangely
preoccupied. There was a deep line between his bushy eyebrows as
he bent them at Desmond, motioning him to a chair. When he spoke,
his manner was very curt.
"What time did you part from the Mackwaytes at the theatre last
night?"
Desmond was dumbfounded. How on earth did the Chief know about
his visit to the Palaceum? Still, he was used to the omniscience
of the British Intelligence, so he answered promptly:
"It was latish, sir; about midnight, I think!"
"They went home to Seven Kings alone!"
"Yes, sir, in a taxi!" Desmond replied.
The Chief contemplated his blotting-pad gloomily. Desmond knew it
for a trick of his when worried.
"Did you have a good night?" he said to Desmond, suddenly.
"Yes," he said, not in the least understanding the drift of the
question. "... though I didn't mean to get up quite so early!"
The Chief ignored this sally.
"Nothing out of the ordinary happened during the night, I
suppose?" he asked again.
Desmond shook his head.
"Nothing that I know of, sir," he said.
"Seen Strangwise this morning?"
Desmond gasped for breath. So the Chief knew about him meeting
Strangwise, too!
"No, sir!"
A clerk put his head in at the door.
"Well, Matthews!"
"Captain Strangwise will be along very shortly, sir," he said.
Pages:
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51