“I am obliged to you,” said Sandford, in a tone of surprise, as if he could not conceive that any one should not. “I am told there is a train at 3.35. Good afternoon.”
“One moment. One moment,” said Reggie. “Do you know of any reason in the world Kimball had to hate you?”
“Certainly not,” said Sandford, in offended dignity. “Our relations were short and wholly official. I conceive that he had no reason to complain of my services.”
“And yet he meant to murder you or have you hanged for his murder.”
“If he did, I can only suppose that he was out of his mind.”
“Was he out of his mind when he worked the Coal Ramp to ruin you?”
“Dear me,” said Sandford, “do you really suggest, sir, that Mr. Kimball was responsible for that scandalous piece of finance?”
“Who else?”
“But really—you startle me. That is to say, as a Minister he betrayed the secrets of the department?”
“Well, he didn’t stick at a trifle, did he?”