The inspector’s eyes twinkled more merrily than ever. “I’ve been waiting for something like this ever since I came up here, Mr. Sheringham; though I didn’t expect you to put it quite that way. I thought you’d just got me here to try to pump me in the ordinary way, as hundreds of new journalists have tried already before they found out it wasn’t any use.”
“Oh!” said Roger somewhat crestfallen. “Did you? But about this clue, I⸺”
“Lord, the number of clues I’ve had offered me in my time!” observed the inspector reminiscently. “Thousands of ’em! And not a single one worth a twopenny rap.”
“Oh!” said Roger again. “Then there’s nothing doing, I take it, in the confidence line?”
The inspector continued to chuckle for a moment; it pleased him mildly to score off Roger and he thought the latter deserved it. Even Anthony, in spite of his disappointment, could hardly repress a smile at that confident gentleman’s discomfiture.
Then the inspector proceeded to relent. “However, I’m not saying there isn’t any sense in what you said. There is. I know you’re not an ordinary journalist. I know what you did at Wychford and I’ve seen by your articles in the Courier that you really are interested in this sort of thing for its own sake. So as long as I have your word that you won’t publish anything that I want held up, perhaps I don’t mind letting you in on a thing or two that I should keep back from anyone else, and even talking the case over with you as well. Though mind you, it’s highly unprofessional conduct, as they say, and I should get into real hot water at the Yard if they ever came to hear of it.”
“I say, that’s awfully sporting of you, Inspector!” Roger cried with vast relief. “I quite thought you were going to turn me down. Yes, I promise you the Yard shan’t hear of it, and of course I won’t publish anything without your consent. It’s a purely personal interest, you know.”
“And you too, Mr. Walton? You agree to that?”
“Rather, Inspector! It’s extraordinarily decent of you.”
“Then let’s hear about this clue of yours first of all, Mr. Sheringham, if you please.”