“I had you brought here,� continued the Chief of Staff, “after some study of the right and the wrong in the matter. We have your record!�
Sir Richard pointed toward the south and the direction of New Scotland Yard.
“Yes, we have it,� he continued slowly. “It’s a criminal shame, Fay, that a man of your ability ever entered the downward path of crime. It leads nowhere, and damn fast you go. You’re bucking the stream all of the time. You can’t beat the law!�
Fay glanced along his tweed suit and studied the points of his well-polished shoes. They fitted so well he wondered if they had been made from his Bertillon
measurements. He glanced up and into Sir Richard’s half-hidden eyes.
“You can’t beat it—clever as you are! And, however much we may enjoy enterprise and however many shilling-shockers and penny-dreadfuls we have devoured, the fact remains, Fay, that you have sadly misapplied your splendid talents.â€�
Fay took the flattery for what he thought it was worth. He waited with every sense keen and intent.
“But for you,â€� continued Sir Richard, shaking his index-finger, “but for you and your kind, literature would be poorer—we’ll grant that—â€�
Fay heard MacKeenon rounding the corner of the table and fingering the locked boxes.
“We’ll grant it!� snapped Sir Richard testily. “We’ll grant your talents. It is because of them that we have brought you here tonight! As man to man, Fay, we’re in a knot. I’m sure you are the one rogue in all the known world who can help us out. I’m going to be very candid!�