Hale mixed his favourite brew, but
Macpherson, shunning the wine of his country, contented himself with a
glass of plain mineral water, and lit a cigarette. Then he awoke my
high regard by saying pleasantly as if nothing had happened,--
'While we are waiting, Monsieur Valmont, may I remind you that you owe
me five shillings?'
I laughed, took the coin from my pocket, and paid him, whereupon he
thanked me.
'Are you connected with Scotland Yard, Monsieur Valmont?' asked
Macpherson, with the air of a man trying to make conversation to
bridge over a tedious interval; but before I could reply, Hale blurted
out,--
'Not likely!'
'You have no official standing as a detective, then, Monsieur
Valmont?'
'None whatever,' I replied quickly, thus getting in my oar ahead of
Hale.
'This is a loss to our country,' pursued this admirable young man,
with evident sincerity.
I began to see I could make a good deal of so clever a fellow if he
came under my tuition.
'The blunders of our police', he went on, 'are something deplorable.
If they would but take lessons in strategy, say, from France, their
unpleasant duties would be so much more acceptably performed, with
much less discomfort to their victims.
Pages:
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251