But another ten years had passed since then, and he still occupied a subordinate position, with not much hope of promotion unless luck came his way.

And there seemed very little chance of that.

Caldew's professional experience had imbued him with the belief that the junior officers of Scotland Yard existed for no other purpose than to shoulder the blame for the mistakes of their official superiors, who divided amongst themselves the plums of promotion, rewards, and newspaper publicity.

That, of course, was the recognized thing in all public departments.

Caldew found no fault with the system.
His great ambition was to obtain some opening which would bring him advancement and his share of the plums.
He believed his opportunity had arrived that night.