"What kind of business?" said Hannasyde.
Mr. Budd leaned forward, resting his arms upon his desk, and replied in a confidential tone: "Strictly private, Mr. Hannasyde!" He looked slyly at Hannasyde. "You take my meaning? There isn't a soul in this world I'd discuss a client's affairs with, least of all Mr. Fletcher's, but when a thing like this happens, I see it's different. I'm discreet. I have to be discreet. If I weren't, where do you think I'd be? You don't know; I don't know, but it wouldn't be where I am today. But I'm on the side of law and order. I realise it's my duty to assist the police where and how I can. My duty as a citizen. That's why I'm going to make an exception to my rule of silence. Now, you're a broad-minded man, Mr. Hannasyde. You're a man of experience. You know that everything that goes on in the City doesn't get published in the Financial Yews." He shook with amusement, and added: "Not by a long chalk!"
"I am aware, certainly, that a not-over-scrupulous man in Mr. Fletcher's position - he was upon several boards, I think? - might find it convenient to employ an agent to buy on his behalf stocks which he would not like it to be known that he had bought," replied Hannasyde.
Mr. Budd's eyes twinkled at him. "You know everything, don't you, Mr. Hannasyde? But that's it. That's it in a nutshell. You may not approve of it, I may not approve of it, but what has it to do with us, after all?"
"It has this much to do with you, that Mr. Fletcher was in the habit of employing you in that manner."
Budd nodded. "Quite right. I don't deny it. Where would be the sense in that? My business is to obey my clients' instructions, and that's what I do, Mr. Hannasyde, asking no questions."
"Not always, I think," said Hannasyde.
Budd looked hurt. "Why, what do you mean? Now, that's a thing that has never been said to me yet. I don't like it, Mr. Hannasyde. No, I don't like it."
"Surely you told Sergeant Hemingway yesterday that you had failed to obey certain of Mr. Fletcher's instructions?"
The smile, which had vanished from Budd's face, reappeared. He leaned back in his chair, his mind apparently relieved, and said: "Oh now, now, now! That's an exaggeration. Oh yes, that's just a little exaggeration, I assure you! What I told the Sergeant was that there had been a misunderstanding between Mr. Fletcher and me."