I'm all at sea! Why did
you send for me? What have you got to do with criminal cases,
anyway? Surely, this is a Scotland Yard matter!"
The Chief shook his head.
"I sent for you in default of your brother, Okewood!" he said.
"You once refused an offer of mine to take you into my service,
but this time I had to have you, so I got the War Office to
wire..."
"Then my appointment for ten o'clock to-day was with you?"
Desmond exclaimed in astonishment.
The Chief nodded.
"It was," he said curtly.
"But," protested Desmond feebly, "did you know about this murder
beforehand!"
The Chief threw back his head and laughed.
"My dear fellow," he said; "I'm not quite so deep as all that. I
haven't second sight, you know!"
"You've got something devilish like it, sir!" said Desmond. "How
on earth did you know that I was at the Palaceum last night?"
The Chief smiled grimly.
"Oh, that's very simple," he said. "Shall I tell you some more
about yourself? You sat..." he glanced down at the desk in front
of him,"... in Stall E 52 and, after Nur-el-Din's turn,
Strangwise took you round and introduced you to the lady. In her
dressing-room you met Mr. Mackwayte and his daughter. After
that..."
"But," Desmond interrupted quickly, "I must have been followed by
one of your men.
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