"
They were seated once more in the taxicab, on their way westward.
Francis for the first time was conscious of an utterly new
sensation with regard to his companion. He watched him through
half-closed eyes--an insignificant-looking little man whose
clothes, though neat, were ill-chosen, and whose tie was an
offense. There was nothing in the face to denote unusual
intelligence, but the eyes were small and cunning and the mouth
dogged. Francis looked away out of the window. A sudden flash
of realisation had come to him, a wave of unreasoning but
positive dislike.
"When do you hope to bring your case to an end?" he asked.
The man smiled once more, and the very smile irritated his
companion.
"Within the course of the next few days, sir," he replied.
"And the charge?"
The detective turned around.
"Mr. Ledsam," he said, "we have been old friends, if you will
allow me to use the word, ever since I was promoted to my present
position in the Force. You have trusted me with a good many
cases, and I acknowledge myself your debtor, but in the matter of
Sir Timothy Brast, you will forgive my saying with all respect,
sir, that our ways seem to lie a little apart."
"Will you tell me why you have arrived at that conclusion?"
Francis asked. "It was I who first incited you to set a watch
upon Sir Timothy.
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