Part 6 (1/2)
”You might have done more and I won't deny I wish to goodness you had.
However, you acted with considerable sense. You might have done worse--much worse.”
”I'm glad if you think so,” the boy a.s.serted modestly. ”It seemed to me afterward that I had been very stupid. It all was so quick! Almost like sleight-of-hand.”
”You were up against experts, sonny,” Mr. Inspector remarked more gently than he had yet spoken. ”You did well to detect them at all. Now fire ahead with your yarn.”
In simple, straightforward fas.h.i.+on Christopher told his story and it was evident several parts afforded his critical listener satisfaction, for twice he muttered beneath his breath:
”Very good! _Very_ good!”
The tale finished, Christopher paused, breathless.
”Could you give me any description of these fellows?” his cross questioner inquired.
”The big chap--the one who tried on the rings--was tall, heavy, had light hair and a bald spot on the top of his head. I looked right down on it.”
”Excellent!”
”His eyes I could not see. His face was smooth-shaven, and on his right cheek, going from his ear almost to the corner of his mouth, was a white, queer sort of scar that--”
The inspector started from his seat, then sank back again.
”Ah!” was all he said. ”And the other fellow?”
”Small, dark, black-haired, with a coat much too big for him. His nose was sharp, and he kept looking over his shoulder.”
”Anything else?”
”I'm afraid that's all, except that his hands were dirty as if they had been in ink or grease or something. Maybe they hadn't, though.”
The inspector beamed upon him.
”You have a very observing son, Mr. Burton, very! He's a fine lad. You should be proud of him.”
”Has he helped you at all?”
”At all? He has given me precisely the information I was after.”
”And you think you could identify the men?”
”I know them already.”
”Know who they are?” gasped Christopher.
”Yes.”
It was obvious the expert was enjoying the lad's mystification.
”You don't mean you know their names,” persisted Christopher.
”Indeed I do--all their many names, for they have almost as long a list of them as you have yourself.”