"He actually used those words?" demanded the Inspector.
"Those were his very words," replied Sturry solemnly, "I heard him with my own ears, being, as I have informed you, Upon the Point of bringing in the cocktails."
He fixed the Inspector with a glassy stare as he spoke. The Inspector, reading the message thus haughtily conveyed to him, quite understood that the butler had stood with his ear to the door during this painful altercation, and had no intention of admitting it. He nodded his comprehension, and asked: "Was it then that Mr. Herriard said that Mr. Stephen was as bad as his sister?"
"Immediately consequent upon Mr. Stephen's refusing to support his sister," said Sturry.
"Oh, he didn't support her?" said the Inspector, like a terrier with its nose to a rat-hole.
"Somewhat to my surprise, Inspector, no," Sturry replied. "Mr. Herriard, who was by that time in Quite a Taking, then turned on Mr. Stephen, if I may be permitted to use the expression."
"What happened next?"
"I could not say," answered Sturry, with a return to his cold reserve. "Following my entrance into the drawingroom, Mr. Stephen left it."
"And Mr. Herriard had told him that he wouldn't have him here any more?"
"That was what Mr. Herriard said."