“With pleasure, sir. I know that you have a lot of valuable property here, and I told your assistant, when I helped him at the lake, that I would look round occasionally.”
“Thanks, Warner. Now, tell me more about the lady.”
“You saved her life, Mr Goodall, and not a moment too soon, but her companion tried to make her believe, after you left, that he rescued her. I couldn’t stand it any longer, and, whilst the gent was out of the way, I blurted out the plain truth.”
“And what did the lady say to your honest candour, Warner?”
“She replied, ‘You know, policeman, and I know that a strange gentleman in his shirt sleeves took me out of the water, and I had seen that stranger once before to-day in the palace, and should you see him again, express the deepest gratitude to him from me, and I shall hope to see you again, policeman, if you will leave me your name.’”
“Well done, Simon! You’ll be a rising man some day. I hope you left your name?”
“No, I didn’t, sir, for I heard the lady’s friend coming before I could say much more.”
“That was a pity, Warner, though, personally, I do not wish to be mixed up with that affair more than I have been, as my social position and family connection compel me to pursue my hobby in as quiet and private a manner as possible.”
“Yes, sir, I understood something of that sort from Trigger, who told me not to open my mouth too wide about his master’s doings. In my line we are careful about that, Mr Goodall; but, hang me if I could keep from popping in a word about you when I found that the lady was being told all wrong as to who saved her.”
“You are quite sure that you did not mention my name?”