"When I put you in the cooler," Teal proclaimed loudly, "you're going to stay there for more than a week."
He stormed out of the apartment and went to interview Vascoe.
"With your permission, sir," he said, "I'd like to post enough men round this house to make it impossible for a mouse to get in."
Vascoe shook his head.
"I haven't asked for protection," he said coldly. "If you did that, the Saint would be forced to abandon the attempt. I should prefer him to make it. The Ingerbeck Agency is already employed to protect my collection. There are two armed guards in the house all day, and another man on duty all night. And the place is fitted with the latest burglar alarms. The only way it could be successfully robbed would be by an armed gang, and we know that the Saint doesn't work that way. No, Inspector. Let him get in. He won't find it so easy to get out again. And then I'll be very glad to send for you."
Teal argued, but Vascoe was obstinate. He almost succeeded in convincing the detective of the soundness of his reasoning. There would be no triumph or glory in merely preventing the Saint from getting near the house; but to catch him red-handed would be something else again. Nevertheless, Teal would have felt happier if he could have convinced himselfthat the Saint was possible to catch.
"At least, you'd better let me post one of my own men outside," he said.
"You will do nothing of the sort," Vascoe said curtly. "The Saint would recognise him a mile off. The police have had plenty of opportunities to catch him before this, and I don't remember your making any brilliant use of them."
Teal left the house in an even sourer temper than he had entered it, and if he had been a private individual he would have assured himself that anything that happened to Vascoe or his art treasures would be richly deserved. Unfortunately his duty didn't allow him to dispose of the matter so easily. He had another stormy interview with the Assistant Commissioner, who for the first time in history was sympathetic.
"You've done everything you could, Mr. Teal," he said. "If Vascoe refuses to give us any assistance, he can't expect much."