The big man did not affect to misunderstand.
“You know perfectly well, Vallory; or if you don’t, you ought to. Crawford’s scamping these bridges shamelessly. He is scanting the ‘mix’, and also the reinforcing steel. I’ve caught him at it.”
“Why didn’t you complain to me?”
“What the devil good would it do? I’ve yelled at you people for everything, and you patch one hole only to leave another.”
“I suppose you have your orders to come here and take the direction of the work out of the hands of my man?”
“I have orders to see that you don’t pull any more bones on us, if I have to eat and sleep on the job to prevent it. And I’m like little old Casabianca, Vallory; I obey orders.”
“Who gave you the orders?”
“Lushing: he’s back now.”
“Don’t you know that he’s a damned crook, himself, Strayer?”
The square-jawed, bearded inspector laughed grimly.