"No bother at all, dear Miss Birtley: a pleasure!" Timothy responded promptly.
"Really, I think it is extremely kind of you!" Mrs. Haddington said, slightly raising her plucked eyebrows. "If you will forgive me, I shall go up to bed."
"Please don't sit up on my account!" Timothy begged. "You must be dropping on your feet!"
"I am very tired," she acknowledged. She turned her head, as the door opened, and said: 'Ah, you want my secretary, I expect!"
"If you please, madam," said Inspector Grant.
Beulah rose jerkily. "I'm quite ready. I - I wish you wouldn't wait, Timothy!"
"You've said that before," he pointed out. "My own conviction is that you ought to be supported by your legal adviser during this interview."
"No, no, really I'd rather not! Please!"
"The Chief Inspector, sir, would like to see Miss Birtley alone, I think," said Inspector Grant.
"What the Chief Inspector would like leaves me very cold," retorted Timothy.