It is not an easy exercise in hospitality to entertain a guest who has just announced that he is a double murderer. Small talk about the weather and the latest books seems something of an anticlimax, while to display a polite interest in his hobby and question him as to details might be misconstrued as mere indecent curiosity. On the whole it is difficult to see how the situation (should it ever occur to the reader) could be better handled than it was by Roger.
“Did you really?” observed that gentleman politely, pulling himself together with an effort as the three tankards preceded the landlord into the room. “Well, well!—er—cheerio!”
“Cheerio!” echoed the self-confessed murderer gloomily, and extracted what comfort he could from his tankard.
“Won’t you sit down?” mumbled Roger, still mechanically polite.
“Thanks.”
The trio seated themselves and looked at one another in silence.
“The—the inspector ought to be here soon, I should think,” volunteered Roger helpfully.
“Will he?”
“Yes, I should think so.”
“I see.”