‘Well, it does look like that. But which of you is the senior officer here?’
‘Me, sir,’ said the last speaker.
‘Very well, if you can be so kind as to call the officer in charge of the station, or even one of senior standing—the higher the better—I can satisfy him as to my identity, and as to my reasons for behaving as I have done. I assure you that it is a matter of the very gravest importance. If the inspector, when he has seen me, permits, I have no objections to you, or to all of you hearing what I have to say. But you will understand that this is a matter for his own discretion. If I were merely playing the fool, you must see that I have nothing to gain by giving additional annoyance and offence.’
‘Very well, sir, I will bring the officer in charge,’ said the policeman.
‘Just tell him about my arrest and so on,’ said Merton.
In a few minutes he returned with his superior.
‘Well, my man, what’s a’ this aboot?’ said that officer sternly.
‘If you can give me an interview, alone, for five minutes, I shall enlighten you,’ said Merton.
The officer was a huge and stalwart man. He threw his eye over Merton. ‘Wait in the yaird,’ he said to his minions, who retreated rather reluctantly. ‘Weel, speak up,’ said the officer.
‘It is the body snatching case at Kirkburn,’ said Merton.