Mrs Verloc volunteered no assurance of any kind.
“ The information I need is quite private,” he repeated. “You understand what I mean? I wonder if you could give me a notion where he’s gone to?”
Mrs Verloc shook her head.
“ Can’t say.”
She turned away to range some boxes on the shelves behind the counter. Chief Inspector Heat looked at her thoughtfully for a time.
“ I suppose you know who I am?” he said.
Mrs Verloc glanced over her shoulder. Chief Inspector Heat was amazed at her coolness.
“ Come! You know I am in the police,” he said sharply.
“ I don’t trouble my head much about it,” Mrs Verloc remarked, returning to the ranging of her boxes.
“ My name is Heat. Chief Inspector Heat of the Special Crimes section.”
Mrs Verloc adjusted nicely in its place a small ca
