But the Saint had recognized the first voice, and a husky croak of a chuckle came from his lips.
"Dear old Claud Eustace," he said. "Always ten minutes too late!"
Chapter XIV
How Simon Templar put on his hat
CHIEF INSPECTOR TEAL reverently unwrapped his fourth wafer of gum. Simon Templar had bought it specially for him, and Teal was doing himself proud.
"Though why you aren't dead," said Mr. Teal, "is more than anyone will ever know."
The Saint, with a bandaged head and nothing more, grinned cheerfully.
"You can't keep a good man down," he said.
"It was sheer luck you didn't get me down," said Teal. "And that would have been a good man lost to the C. I. D., though I says it myself. I shall never be able to make out why none of us was hurt. It may have been because we'd almost stopped when you hit us; but our car was spun round broadside to the road — off-side front wheel knocked off as if it had been cut with a knife, chassis tied in a knot, both axles bust, gear box all over the road, and a worse shaking for all of us than any of us want to have again."
"Will you be sending in the bill?" drawled the Saint.