Callaghan asked: 'Do you mind if I smoke?' He lit a cigarette, slowly regarded the end of it for some seconds before he answered. 'I don't think it's so much a matter of what you can do for me, Mr. Vane,' he said. 'Possibly I'm doing something for you— or the Gardell family.'
Mr. Vane raised his eyebrows.
'Really?' he said.
Callaghan went on: 'Did you know that Admiral Gardell, who was murdered early yesterday morning, tried to see me the night before?'
Vane said cautiously: 'Don't you think it would be better for both of us if I knew just where these questions are leading? And may I ask who you are representing? I don't know that your services have been retained by any member of the Gardell family.'
Callaghan thought for a moment. He decided to chance it. He said:
'Mr. Vane, I speci
