"What had put Mr. Herriard in a bad temper, sir?"
"Oh, a mere nothing! Mr. Roydon had been reading his play to us, and my brother didn't like it."
"That doesn't seem to be much of a reason, sir."
Joseph gave an unhappy laugh. "I'm afraid it was quite enough reason for him, Inspector. That's just the sort of thing that did upset him."
The Inspector pondered this, and at length produced: "If he didn't like to have it read to him, sir, why was it read?"
Complications were clearly arising. Joseph said: "Mr. Roydon is a guest in the house. It would have been very difficult to have forbidden him to read his play, wouldn't it?"
"Seems queer-like to me, sir," was all the Inspector vouchsafed. "I'd like to see this Mr. Roydon, please."
"Certainly, but I'm sure he knows nothing about the crime. I mean, it would be too preposterous! My brother had never laid eyes on him before he came down here yesterday. Shall I send him in to you?"
"Yes, please," said the Inspector.
He was clearly an unresponsive man. His stolid manner and frozen stare quite put poor Joseph out. He went away, looking unhappy, to find Roydon.