Mr. Benjamin Browne, sole partner of Inglewood, Browne and Company, was decidedly annoyed that afternoon when Lewis abruptly entered his room and told him that Inspector Mallett wished to see him at once. His annoyance was not due to the fact that the visit interrupted any important work, for he was doing none. He was being disturbed in something far more intimate and important than any work—in the little nap which he was accustomed to take after lunch and to prolong, if possible, till tea-time. He objected still more to being caught in an undignified moment by Lewis, who had chosen to march in unannounced, to find his employer snoring in an arm-chair. Most of all, he objected to the grin of triumph on the young man’s face, as he murmured hypocritically: “Sorry to disturb you, sir.” In that instant, Lewis’s fate was sealed. He was an indispensable employee, he knew, but there should be no partnership for him in Inglewood, Browne & Co.

Thus roughly awakened, Mr. Browne struggled to his feet.

“Ask him to wait a moment,” he said.

“He says he hasn’t long to spare,” replied Lewis, rejoicing in his principal’s discomfiture. “He would like to see you at once.”

“Tell him to wait,” repeated Browne. “I can’t see him like this, can I?”

He clawed on the greasy tail-coat which he had taken off before his slumbers, ran to a mirror in the corner of the room, resettled his dishevelled black tie, dabbed with a hairbrush at his almost entirely bald head, stroked into submission his weeping black moustache, and finally settled down behind his desk.

“Now,” he said to Lewis, pulling some documents before him, “ask him to come in.”

Mallett took in the office at a glance—the dusty files, the empty letter-tray, the crumpled arm-chair. “Not much business here,” he thought.

“Good afternoon,” said Browne ponderously, stifling a yawn. “It’s this Daylesford Gardens business, I suppose? Can we assist you in any way?”

“I hope so,” said Mallett. “I am sorry to have to disturb you——”

“Not at all, not at all,” Browne assured him. “To tell you the truth, we were rather busy today”—he waved his hand in a manner that he hoped would be impressive—“but we are always ready to assist the cause of justice. I’m sure.”

“As a matter of fact,” said the inspector, “I came here in the hope of seeing Mr. Harper. But I’m told he is out.”

Browne shook his head sadly.