He made a voluminous note in his pocketbook.
"Am I to conclude, then, that there was a quarrel ?" he enquired.
"I do not quarrel with people to whom I pay a salary," Tallente replied.
"When you say that you turned him out of the house, that rather implies a quarrel, doesn't it?
It might even imply--blows." "You can put your own construction upon it," was the cool reply.
"Had you any idea where the honourable Anthony Palliser was going to ?" "I suggested the devil," Tallente confided blandly.

"I expect he will get there some time.

I put up with him because I knew his father, but he is not a young man to make a fuss about." The inspector was a little staggered.
"I am to conclude, then," he said, "that you were dissatisfied with his work as your secretary ?" "Absolutely," was the firm reply.

"You have no idea what a mess he was liable to make of things if he was left alone." The inspector coughed.
"Mr.Tallente, sir," he said, "my instructions are to ask you to disclose the nature of your displeasure, if any, with the Honourable Mr.
Anthony Palliser.

In plain words, Scotland Yard desires to know why he was turned away from his place at a moment's notice." "I suppose it is the duty of Scotland Yard to be inquisitive in cases of this sort," Tallente observed.