HYDE.—On May 22nd, 1935, at a nursing-home, suddenly, JOHN HYDE, of 17 Gadsby Row, in his 50th year. No flowers by request.
The Sergeant scratched his nose. “And what's more, it may be true, Chief,” he pronounced. “What does it say?—suddenly? There you are then. All the time we've been chasing round after him the poor fellow's been lying in hospital with appendicitis. No wonder we couldn't find him! Well, well, and now where are we?”
“Get on to the office of the paper, and find out who sent in that notice,” commanded Hannasyde rather irritably. “And do try and keep your infernal imagination within bounds!”
The Sergeant shook his head sadly. “Yes, I thought this case would get on our nerves before we were through with it,” he remarked, and went out before his superior had time to reply.
He came back some little time later, and said: “Well, now I am going to surprise you, Super. That notice was sent in by General Sir Montague Hyde, of Crayly Court, Herts.”
“What?” exclaimed Hannasyde.
“Didn't know he'd got such classy relations, did we?” said the Sergeant cheerfully.
“Who is General Sir Montague Hyde?” demanded Hannasyde.
The Sergeant consulted the slip of paper in his hand. “Born 1871… eldest son of Sir Montague Hyde, 5th baronet… Educated Eton and Sand—”
“I don't want to know where he was educated, and you can cut out the Boer War, and the Great War, and his decorations, if any!” said Hannasyde. “What are his clubs? Has he a town address?”