A flash of intelligence passed over the moneylender's face, but he suppressed it almost instantly.
“Hassendean?” he repeated, as though cudgelling his memory. “I've some recollection of the name. But my business is a large one, and I don't profess to carry all the details in my head.”
He stepped over to the bell and rang it. When a clerk appeared in answer to the summons, the moneylender turned to give an order:
“I think we had some transactions with a Mr. Hassendean—Mr. Ronald Hassendean, isn't it?” he glanced at Flamborough for confirmation, and then continued: “Just bring me that file, Plowden.”
It did not take the Inspector long to make up his mind that this by-play was intended merely to give Spratton time to find his bearings; but Flamborough waited patiently until the clerk returned and placed a filing-case on the table. Spratton turned over the leaves for a few moments, as though refreshing his memory.
“This fellow would have made a good actor,” Flamborough reflected with a certain admiration. “He does it deuced well. But who the devil does he remind me of?”
Spratton's nicely-calculated interlude came to an end, and he turned back to the Inspector.
“You're quite right. I find that he had some transactions with us!”
“They began about eleven months ago, didn't they?”
The moneylender nodded in confirmation.