“You’re not suggesting that Lew Brady——”
“No. I’m not suggesting anything about Lew Brady, except that he’s a very poor boxer. I’ll look into this distressing whisker competition, Mr. Broad, and thank you for telling me.”
He wasn’t especially interested in the eccentric toilet of Ray Bennett. At five o’clock Balder came to him and asked if he might go home.
“I promised my wife——” he began.
“Keep it,” said Elk.
After his subordinate’s departure there came an official letter to Inspector Elk, and, reading its contents, Mr. Elk beamed. It was a letter from the Superintendent who controlled the official careers of police officers at headquarters.
“Sir,” it ran, “I am directed by the Chief Commissioner of Police to inform you that the promotion of Police-Constable J. J. Balder to the rank of Acting-Sergeant has been approved. The appointment will date as from the 1st May.”
Elk folded up the paper and was genuinely pleased. He rang the bell for Balder before he remembered that he had sent his assistant home. Elk’s evening was free, and in the kindness of his heart he decided upon conveying the news personally.
“I’d like to see this wife of his,” said Elk, addressing nobody, “and the children!”
Elk turned up the official pass register, and found that Balder lived at 93, Leaford Road, Uxbridge. The names of his wife and children were not entered, to Elk’s disappointment. He would like to have addressed the latter personally, but no new entry had been made on the sheet since Balder’s enlistment.