"He ain't the man you want arrested ?" "He is not," the Judge managed to get out.
"From the way you hesitated--" "The Judge's hesitation, Lieutenant," Mr.Pyecroft interrupted in his pleasant tone, "was due to his amazement at the utter grotesqueness of the situation.

He was for a moment utterly taken aback.

That's it, isn't it, Judge ?" "Yes," said Judge Harvey.
The lieutenant twisted his derby in chagrined, ireful hands.
"Some of my men have been damned fools again!" he exploded.

He got himself back under control.

"Judge Harvey, I hope you'll excuse our buttin' in like this--and--and won't find it necessary to mention it to the heads of the department." "It's--it's all right," said the Judge.
"And you, Mr .-- Mr.--" "Simpson--Archibald Simpson," supplied Mr.Pyecroft.
"Mr.Simpson, I hope you don't mind this too much ?" "No ill feeling at all, Lieutenant," Mr.Pyecroft said graciously.
"Such little mistakes must occasionally occur in the most careful police work." "And--and--there's another thing," said Lieutenant Sullivan with a note of gruff pleading.