“I should like a few words with you in the office,” he said, and the three men left the house.
“Yon man hasn’t much to learn from you and me, Harker,” said the inspector, as the two officials motored back to headquarters a couple of hours later. “The way he pumped those two women would have done credit to a K.C.; and as for the old man—there won’t be much blood left in him, I fancy, when that chap’s finished squeezing.”
“It strikes me we’ve a deal to learn from this manager, or what he calls himself,” said Mr. Harker dryly. He had made very few remarks so far, though he had asked many questions.
“He’s evidently inclined to suspect this young fellow with the peculiar handle to his name,” continued the inspector.
“Or, anyhow, very anxious that other people should suspect him!” From Mr. Harker’s caustic tone it was easy to infer that Inman’s zeal had left no favourable impression. “But he’s wasting his powder and shot. The two men aren’t on good terms. Inman married this Jagger Drake’s sweetheart, and it hasn’t turned out a love match, I understand. Since then Jagger has thrashed our friend, and he’s still sore about it. There’s more life in a hole like this than most folk think, Martin. All the same, Jagger Drake hasn’t helped himself to this swag!”
It was evident that Detective Harker had been making good use of his opportunities.
“Have you formed a theory?”
“Not a workable one, so far. To be quite frank, I could think the business had been cooked, but I can’t at present see why or how. If I’m right there’s only one man who can throw light on the subject, and he won’t.”
“Meaning Inman?” The inspector’s voice betrayed quite as much scepticism as interest.
“That man is one of the finest actors I’ve ever met,” the detective answered quietly. “I should have suspected collusion between him and his master; but that’s out of the question—the old man is no actor. This job interests me, but it’ll have to be worked carefully. He’s a smart man who’s helped himself to this rhino, whoever he is. I expect his smartness’ll trip him up if we give him time.”