 the county police after him.«
    This took such a long time to say that the unflagging attention of the
Assistant Commissioner seemed a wonderful feat of endurance. His retort came
without delay.
    »No reason whatever that I know of. Come, Chief Inspector, this finessing
with me is highly improper on your part - highly improper. And it's also unfair,
you know. You shouldn't leave me to puzzle things out for myself like this.
Really, I am surprised.«
    He paused, then added smoothly: »I need scarcely tell you that this
conversation is altogether unofficial.«
    These words were far from pacifying the Chief Inspector. The indignation of
a betrayed tight-rope performer was strong within him. In his pride of a trusted
servant he was affected by the assurance that the rope was not shaken for the
purpose of breaking his neck, as by an exhibition of impudence. As if anybody
were afraid! Assistant Commissioners come and go, but a valuable Chief Inspector
is not an ephemeral office phenomenon. He was not afraid of getting a broken
neck. To have his performance spoiled was more than enough to account for the
glow of honest indignation. And as thought is no respecter of persons, the
thought of Chief Inspector Heat took a threatening and prophetic shape. »You, my
boy,« he said to himself, keeping his round and habitually roving eyes fastened
upon the Assistant Commissioner's face - »you, my boy, you don't know your
place, and your place won't know you very long either, I bet.«
    As if in provoking answer to that thought, something like the ghost of an
amiable smile passed on the lips of the Assistant Commissioner. His manner was
easy and businesslike while he persisted in administering another shake to the
tight rope.
    »Let us come now to what you have discovered on the spot, Chief Inspector,«
he said.
    »A fool and his job are soon parted,« went on the train of prophetic thought
in Chief Inspector Heat's head. But it was immediately followed by the
reflection that a higher official, even when fired out (this was the precise
image), has still the time as he flies through the door to launch a nasty kick
at the shinbones of a subordinate. Without softening very much the basilisk
nature of his stare, he said, impassively:
    »We are coming to that part of my investigation, sir,«
    »That's right. Well, what have you brought away from it?«
    The Chief Inspector, who had made up
