Part 23 (1/2)
”Nothing is absolutely certain,” said Simon.
Again the accent on the ”absolutely” seemed to rouse his visitor's ire.
”You believe this story, do you?”
”If I _believed_ it, I should order an arrest. I have just told you nothing is absolutely certain.”
”Look here,” said Cromarty, ”I don't want to crab Superintendent Sutherland or his men, but you want to get somebody better than them on to this job.”
Though the Procurator Fiscal kept his feelings well in hand, it was evident that this suggestion struck him more unfavourably than anything his visitor had said yet. He even seemed for one instant to be a little startled by its audacity.
”I disagree,” he muttered.
”Now don't you take offence, Mr. Rattar,” said Ned with a sudden smile.
”I'm not aiming this at you, but, hang it, you know as well as I do that Sutherland is no great shakes at detection. They are all just country bobbies. What we want is a London detective.”
Simon seemed to have recovered his equanimity during this speech. He shook his head emphatically, but his voice was as dispa.s.sionately brusque as ever.
”London detective? Much over-rated people, I a.s.sure you. No use in a case of this kind.”
”The very kind of case a real copper-bottomed expert would be some use in!”
”You are thinking of detectives in stories, Mr. Cromarty. The real men are no better than Sutherland--not a bit. I believe in Sutherland.
Better man than he looks. Very shrewd, most painstaking. Couldn't have a better man. Useless expense getting a man from London.”
”Don't you trouble about the expense, Mr. Rattar. That can be arranged all right. I want a first cla.s.s man engaged.”
The sudden glance which the lawyer shot at him, struck Ned as unusual in his experience of Simon Rattar. He appeared to be startled again, and yet it was not mere annoyance that seemed to show for the fraction of a second in his eye. And then the next instant the man's gaze was as cold and steady as ever. He pursed his lips and considered his answer in silence before he spoke.
”You are a member of the family, Mr. Cromarty; the actual head of it, in fact, I believe.”
”Going by pedigrees, I believe I am, but being a member is reason enough for my wanting to get daylight through this business--and seeing somebody swing for it!”
”What if you made things worse?”
”Worse! How could they be?”
”Mr. Cromarty, I am the Procurator Fiscal in charge of this case. But I am also lawyer and factor to the Cromarty family, and my father was before me. If there was evidence enough--clear and proper evidence--to convict any person of this crime, it would be my duty as Procurator Fiscal to convict them. But there is no definite evidence, as you know yourself. All we can do, if we push this matter too far, is to make a family scandal public. Are you as the head of the Cromarty family, and I as their factor, to do this?”
It was difficult to judge with what feelings Ned Cromarty heard this deliberate statement and appeal. His mouth was as hard as the lawyer's and his eye revealed nothing.
”Then you propose to hush the thing up?”
”I said nothing about hus.h.i.+ng up. I propose to wait till I get some _evidence_, Mr. Cromarty. It is a little difficult perhaps for a layman to realise what evidence means, but I can tell you--and any lawyer, or any detective, would tell you--we have nothing that can be called evidence yet.”
”And you won't get any till you call in somebody a cut above Sutherland.”
”The scent is too cold by this time--”