"I know all that," said Teal thuddingly. "That's what I came here about. What I want to know is why you're here."
Simon's brow puckered.
"But did you really know all about it? Why, I thought I was doing you a good turn. In the course of my private and philanthropic investigations I happened to learn that the affairs of Julian were not all that they might be, so in order to protect his clients without risking a libel action I decided to have him watched. And this very morning my energetic agents informed me that he had drawn all the J. L. Investment Bureau's capital out of the bank and was preparing to skip with the simoleons — I mean abscond with the cash."
"Go on," said Teal dourly. "It sounds interesting."
The Saint hitched one leg onto the table, and drew appreciatively on Mr. Lamantia's cigar.
"It is interesting, Claud. We also learned that Julian was catching a boat train at two-thirty, so our time was limited. The only thing seemed to be for us to toddle along and grab him before he slipped away, and phone you to come over and collect him as soon as we had him trussed. I admit it may have been a bit rash of us to take the law into our own hands like that; but you must have a spot of excitement now and again in these dull days, and we were thinking of nothing but the public weal."
"And what have you got in that bag?"
"This?" Simon glanced down. "This contains the aforesaid simoleons, or mazuma. We were going to take it downstairs and ask the manager to stow it away in his safe till you arrived."
Mr. Teal took the bag from the Saint's hand and opened it. He sniffed, reminding himself of the Assistant Commissioner.
"That's a great story," he said.