Having completed his task, Malcolm Sage folded the tobacco-pouch and handed it back to Sir Jasper.
"Thank you," he said, and proceeded to light his pipe.
Apparently seeing nothing to detain him further, Sir Jasper lifted his hat, bowed and passed on.
"Regular old cure, isn't he?" remarked the inspector as they watched the ungainly figure disappear round the bend of the drive.
"A great man, Carfon," murmured Malcolm Sage, "a very great man," and he turned and walked towards the house.
The front door of "The Hollows" was opened by the butler, a gentle-faced old man, in appearance rather like a mid-Victorian lawyer. At the sight of the inspector, a troubled look came into his eyes.
"I want to have a few words with you," said Malcolm Sage quietly.
The old man led the way to the library. Throwing open the door for them to pass in, he followed and closed it behind him. Malcolm Sage seated himself at the table and Inspector Carfon also dropped into a chair. The butler stood, his hands half-closed before him, the palm of one resting upon the knuckles of the other. His whole attitude was half-nervous, half-fearful, and wholly deprecating.
"I'm afraid this has been a great shock to you," said Malcolm Sage.
Inspector Carfon glanced across at him. There was an unaccustomed note of gentleness in his tone.