The Sergeant turned this over in his mind. "You're thinking of that bit of writing the Superintendent showed you," he pronounced.
"I am, yes." Harding laid the slip of paper aside, and began to go through the others littered over the desk. There was nothing amongst them of any interest, and when he had glanced through them he turned to the waste-paper basket beside the chair. It was half-full of torn and crumpled letters which a cursory inspection informed Harding were either circulars or begging appeals. Under these were the scattered fragments of a cheque, torn into four pieces. Harding lifted these out and laid them on the desk, piecing them together.
The Sergeant drew nearer, watching this process. When it was finished he was silent for a moment. Then he said: "That's black, sir."
"At any rate," said Harding, "it would seem to explain Mr. Halliday's quarrel with the General."
The cheque had not been passed through a bank. It was dated July 1st, and was drawn for fifty pounds, made payable to Mrs. Camilla Halliday. The General's signature was written at the bottom of it.
There was nothing else in the waste-paper basket of importance, and after a quick glance at two circulars and the notice of a meeting of the Silsbury branch of the British Fascisti, Harding gathered together the torn cheque and rose to his feet. "I'll take a look at the position of the other rooms on this floor now, Sergeant. Keep a man on duty here till the safe's been opened, will you?"
"Yes, sir. Do you make anything of it?" inquired the Sergeant diffidently.
"Not very much yet. There are one or two points." He went to the fireplace, and pressed the bell that flanked it.
The butler came presently in answer to the bell's summons, and escorted the Inspector over the ground floor of the house rather in the manner of a guide in a historic mansion. Leading him through the dining-room to the service door outside the pantry, he brought him back again by way of the swing door shutting off the servant's wing from the hall. He then led the way to the garden-hall, like the kitchens, on the east side of the house, pointed out the back stairs, returned to the hall. and entered the billiard-room. From the windows Harding obtained a view of the terrace, where the house party was gathered for tea. He declined going into the drawing-room. "Thanks, I think I have a pretty good idea of the house now," he said. "I want to see the various people who are staying here next. Can you show me a room where I shan't be disturbed, or in the way?"
"I think the morning-room would be the most suitable. sir,". said Finch, standing aside to allow him to pass on into the hall again. "This way, if you please."