“What had we better do?”
“Do nothing till you hear from me again. I am off to Paris to-night, and when I come back I shall know where the letters are, if I don’t bring them back with me.”
The Inspector bowed himself out quite meekly. My curiosity prompted me to venture on a rash question.
“Do you think it possible that Miss Neobard has the letters?”
My chief swung himself slowly round in his chair and gave me a steady look, under which I quailed inwardly.
“I don’t think I ought to tell you, Cassilis. It seems to me that you are an interested party.”
So my fear had been well grounded. I listened breathlessly for more.
“From the beginning of this investigation you have shown a bias that is fatal in one who is playing the part of a detective, or aspiring to play it. A man in your position should be absolutely impartial. He should not let himself be swayed for a moment by personal prejudices or personal preferences. Now you have all along showed a disposition to screen Lady Violet Bredwardine. You have made excuses for her to me, and you have defended her to others. At the same time you have shown an inclination to think the worst of Sarah Neobard. And your animus against her came out most strongly when she showed herself Lady Violet’s enemy.”
What could I say? I was only too thankful that he had spared me any reference to the omission of Violet’s name from the list I had copied for Inspector Charles. That was a clear breach of duty, as I had to admit to myself.
Sir Frank’s voice was perfectly bland as he continued: