Tallente heard him conversing for some time with Robert and saw him in the garden, interviewing the small boy.
Afterwards, he climbed into his car and drove away.

Tallente opened his safe and once more let the little array of folded papers slip through his hands.

Then he rang the bell for Robert, who presently appeared.
"The inspector has quite finished with you ?" his master asked.
Robert was a portly man, a little unhealthy in colour and a little short of breath.

He had been gassed in the war and his nerves were not what they had been.

It was obvious, as he stood on the other side of the table, that he was trembling.
"Quite, sir.