Part 50 (1/2)
”You have my respectful attention,” he said.
”Well, sir,”--Sheffield was palpably embarra.s.sed--”there's nothing to be gained by beating about the bus.h.!.+ Excuse me, sir! But I know, and you know, that Lady Mary Evershed--your niece, sir--and her American friend, Miss Zoe Oppner, are----”
”Yes, inspector?”
”Are acquainted with Severac Bablon!”
Mr. Belford scrutinised Sheffield closely. There was more in the man than appeared at first sight.
”Is this regrettable fact so generally known?” he asked rather coldly.
”No, sir,” replied the other; ”but if the case went on the Secret Service Fund it might be compromising!”
”Do I understand you to mean, inspector, that the discretion of our political agents is not to be relied upon?”
”No, sir. But your--private information could hardly be withheld from them--as it has been withheld from us!”
Even the politician's studied reserve was not proof against that thrust.
He started. Chief-Inspector Sheffield, after all, was a man to be counted with. A silence fell between them--to be broken by the Home Secretary.
”Your frankness pleases me, Inspector Sheffield.”
The other bowed awkwardly.
”I perceive that you would make a bargain. I am to take you into my confidence, and you, in turn, hope to render any employment of the Fund unnecessary?”
”Whatever you tell me, sir, will go no farther--not to one other living.
Better confide in me than in a political agent. Then, you can't have anything more incriminating than this.”
He took a card from his pocket and placed it before Mr. Belford.
”TO LADY MARY EVERSHED.
”I shall always be indebted to you and to Miss Oppner, but I can a.s.sure you of Sir Richard's safety.
”SeVERAC BABLON.”
”No one has seen that but myself,” continued the detective. ”I know better! But anything further you can let me have, sir, will help me to get them out of the tangle: that's what I'm aiming at!”
Mr. Belford's expression had changed when the d.a.m.ning card was placed before him; but his decision was quickly come to. He opened a drawer of the writing table.
”Here,” he said, pa.s.sing a sheet of foolscap to the inspector, ”is the plan of international co-operation which--I will return candour for candour--the increasing importance of the case renders expedient. It was drawn up by my friend the Foreign Secretary. It ensures secrecy, dispatch, and affords no loophole by which Bablon can escape us.”
His manner had grown brisk. The dilettante was lost in the man of action.
Inspector Sheffield read carefully through the long doc.u.ment and returned it to Belford, frowning thoughtfully.
”Thank you, sir,” he said; ”and what else?”
Mr. Belford smiled thoughtfully.