"I believe Mr. Payne is on his way, sir. Dr. Markley was to call; he told me that he wished to see you, sir, as soon as he had finished his morning round."
"Ah yes. I see. By the way, Budge… those undertakers: I shall want to see the clothes Mr. Starberth wore last night, and the contents of his pockets, you know."
Budge inclined his flattish head towards Dr. Fell. "Yes, sir. Dr. Fell mentioned that possibility last night. I took the liberty of preserving them without removing anything from the pockets."
"Good man. Get them and bring them to the library now…. And I say, Budge — " "Yes, sir?"
"If you should happen to see Miss Starberth," said Sir Benjamin, fidgeting, "just — er-convey my deepest… you, know? Yes." He hesitated, this honest police official, growing slightly red in the face at what he apparently considered deception on friends. "And I should like to see Mr. Herbert Starberth as soon as is convenient."
Budge was impassive. "Mr. Herbert has not yet returned, sir."
"Oh, ah! I see. Well, get me those clothes."
They went into a darkened library. It is women who are most efficient in a house of death, where emotionalism runs high; men, like these four, are tongue-tied and helpless. Saunders was the only one who showed any degree of calmness; he was getting back his smooth manners, and seemed as unctuous as though he were opening a Prayer-book to read.
"If you'll excuse me, gentlemen," he said, "I think I had better see whether Miss Starberth will receive me. It's a trying time, you know; a trying time; and if I can be of any assistance…."
"Quite," said the chief constable, gruffly. When the rector had gone, he began to pace up and down. "Of course it's a trying time. But why the devil talk about it? I don't like this."