"A thousand pardons, superintendent," said Mr. White hastily, "no, sir, nothing so unfortunate."
He shot a look half-fearful, half-resentful at the police officer.
"And how is your friend Doctor van Heerden?"
Mr. White twisted uncomfortably in his chair. Again his look of nervousness and apprehension.
"Mr.—ah—van Heerden is not a friend of mine," he said, "a business acquaintance," he sighed heavily, "just a business acquaintance."
The White he had known was not the White of to-day. The man looked older, his face was more heavily lined and his eyes were dark with weariness.
"I suppose he's a pretty shrewd fellow," he remarked carelessly. "You are interested in some of his concerns, aren't you?"
"Only one, only one," replied White sharply, "and I wish to Heaven——"
He stopped himself.
"And you wish you weren't, eh?"