It was Inspector Stone speaking from Scotland Yard, and he asked sharply: “Well, Gilbert, have you finished that little matter you were investigating?”
“Now don’t be sarcastic, Charlie,” laughed Larose. “Of course I haven’t, or I’d have come up to you at once. I’ve marked down my bird right enough, but I daren’t shoot because I’ve not got a good enough cartridge in my gun. To be frank with you, I’m at a bit of a dead end.”
“Well, you come up and see me at once,” commented Stone, “and I think together we’ll be able to make the feathers fly.” He spoke reprovingly. “The trouble with you, Gilbert, always has been that you’re too cocky and want to do everything on your own. If you were a little bit more humble it would be better for everyone. Now, can you come up to-morrow?”
Larose pretended
