Torrance glanced at him sharply as they moved away. “Now, we were under the impression that it was the capture of the man responsible for the affair.”
“Then,” said the soldier drily, “I am afraid you were under a misapprehension.”
He passed the next half-hour with Torrance amicably, and it was not until he was returning to the hall with Clavering that he found an opportunity of expressing himself freely. Torrance, he realized, was an old man, and quite incapable of regarding the question except from his own point of view.
“I am just a little astonished you did not consider it advisable to follow the thing up further, when you must have seen what it pointed to,” said Clavering.
“That,” said Cheyne, smiling, “is foolish of you. I would like to explain that I am not a detective or a police officer.”
“You were, at least, sent here to restore tranquillity.”
“Precisely!” said Cheyne. “By the State. To maintain peace, and not further the cattle-men’s schemes. I am, for the present, your leader’s guest; but I have no reason for thinking he believes that in any way constitutes me his ally. In his case I could not use the word accomplice.”
Clavering flashed an observant glance at him. “It should be evident which party is doing the most to bring about tranquillity.”
“It is not,” said Cheyne. “I don’t know that it is my business to go into that question; but one or two of the efforts you have made lately would scarcely impress the fact on me.”
“You are frank, any way,” with a disagreeable laugh.