“And?”—interrupted van Gulpendam.
“And the result of that investigation has led me to the conclusions I have embodied in the report of the case which, as head of the police, it was my duty to draw up.”
“Yes,” hastily said the Resident, “against all probability, and in the teeth of the evidence!”
“By your leave, Resident,” said Meidema, “the report—”
“Shall I tell you,” broke in van Gulpendam, “shall I tell you to what your investigation has led you?”
But Mr. Meidema, carried away by his argument, paid no heed to the question, and continued:
“The report, for the matter of that, is not binding upon the court.”
“That’s a good job too,” said van Gulpendam, somewhat sarcastically; “but I asked you just now to what your inquiry has led you.”
“To what it has led me, Resident?” replied Meidema. “I think that is a very strange question, coming from you. I have, as I was in duty bound, held an inquiry simply for the sake of arriving at the truth.”
“Of course, Mr. Meidema, that is supposed to be the object of every inquiry; but I think that this particular investigation may have led you to a somewhat different result.”