"Yes, sir. Knowing what I did about him —"
"I'd better see the Saint," said Teal. "If I'm not mistaken, someone's going to be sorry they knew so much."
He was shown into Simon's cell, and the Saint rose languidly to greet him.
"Hullo, Claud," he murmured. "I'm glad you've arrived. A gang of these local half-wits in funny hats —
"Never mind that," said Teal bluntly. "Tell me what you're getting out of this."
Simon pondered.
"I shouldn't accept anything less than ten thousand pounds," he said finally.
The light in Chief Inspector Teal's understanding strengthened slowly. He turned to the local inspector, who had accompanied him.
"By the way," he said, "I suppose you never found that man from Huddersfield, or whoever it was that blew the gaff?"
"No, sir. We've made inquiries at all the hotels, but he seems to have disappeared. I've got a sort of description of him — a fairly tall broad-shouldered man with a beard —"