“I will be there,” said the lawyer, and rang a bell.
“And,” added Angel in a lower voice, “keep out of Jimmy’s way.”
Spedding’s lips twitched, the only sign of nervousness he had shown during the interview, but he made no reply. As the clerk stood waiting at the open door, Spedding, with his most gracious smile, said—
“Er—and did you get home safely this morning?”
“Quite, thank you,” replied Angel, in no wise perturbed by the man’s audacity.
“Did you find your country quarters—er—comfortable?”
“Perfectly,” said Angel, rising to the occasion, “but the function was a failure.”
“The function?” The lawyer bit at the bait Angel had thrown.
“Yes,” said the detective, his hand on the door, “the house-warming, you know.”
Angel chuckled to himself all the way back to the Embankment. His grim little jest pleased him so much that he must needs call in and tell his chief, and the chief’s smile was very flattering.