Before the public he would have liked to vindicate the efficiency of his department by establishing the identity of that man.

He was a loyal servant.

That, however, appeared impossible.

The first term of the problem was unreadable--lacked all suggestion but that of atrocious cruelty.
Overcoming his physical repugnance, Chief Inspector Heat stretched out his hand without conviction for the salving of his conscience, and took up the least soiled of the rags.

It was a narrow strip of velvet with a larger triangular piece of dark blue cloth hanging from it.