"It's a queer affair--Mr.Brereton here, who's a barrister, thinks it's a very queer affair." Mallalieu nodded and sat down, too, glass in hand.

He listened attentively--and Brereton watched him while he listened.

A sleek, sly, observant, watchful man, this, said Brereton to himself--the sort that would take all in and give little out.

And he waited expectantly to hear what Mallalieu would say when he had heard everything.
Mallalieu turned to him when Bent had finished.
"I agree with you, sir," he said.

"Nobody but a fool would have cut that piece of cord off, left it round the man's neck, and left the coil hanging where anybody could find it.