“I know, Carter; I know,” Gleason more quietly protested, warned by a subtle ring in the detective’s voice. “But we really have nothing on Paulding, nothing at all definite, nothing that warrants holding him in custody. It was upon your advice that we arrested him.”
“I guess you have made no mistake.”
“But——”
“He has not kicked against it, has he?”
“No, no, not exactly, yet——”
“Stop a moment,” Nick interrupted. “How long were you and your score of subordinates at work on these mysterious crimes before you sent for me?”
“Why, several months, as you know.”
“And accomplished nothing.”
“Why, nothing material.”
“Several months and nothing accomplished,” said Nick pointedly. “I have been in Madison only two days, Gleason, yet you expect me to begin turning in reports and possibly to have solved the problem that has baffled you for months. Don’t be foolish, Gleason. Rome was not built in a day.”