“The sooner the better. Marshal all the facts. We have to take a strong line here.”
“But the ‘murder’ of William Garland.” Such a nudity of phrase was altogether too much for Bennet Gage. “Even if our information justifies that and even if it is the finding of the Coroner’s jury—and one can’t believe for a moment that it will be—is it right?—is it in the public interest to run counter to the police?”
“Is it in the public interest to cover up their incompetence? that is the question we have to ask ourselves.”
Mr. Gage shook a deferential head. “Not so much their incompetence, it seems to me, as their limitations.”
“A distinction without a difference, my friend.”
“With all respect, I don’t agree. There is reason to believe that they know more than we do. And they have come to the conclusion that they are powerless.”
“A conclusion wholly puerile and discreditable.”
“Upon that I offer no opinion. But you remember what Verity said on his return from Tokyo?”
“Yes; and you remember what I said to Verity?”
“I do. But if I may say so, in this business Verity is the man on the spot. And he is most anxious that we should accept guidance in the matter.”