The Inspector said: "No, sir. Ah've been taught not to drink when on duty. It's a bad thing. You don't think properly when you are drinking. Your brain's not quite clear."
Isles said: "I wish I were you. My brain's never been quite clear since I was born—or has it?"
The Inspector looked vaguely shocked. He went over and sat down on the edge of the settee close to the white rug that was thrown casually across it. He did not even look at the corpse. Isles thought that the Inspector had been taught to concentrate on certain lines of duty; that the teaching had become part of him. He watched him whilst he opened the notebook; took out the pencil from its individual pocket by the side of the book.
The Inspector said: "Ah'd like to have your name, sir."
"My name is Julian Isles—I-s-l-e-s." H
