And that man Harborough's no fool! This isn't his job, Bent.

No!" "Whose, then ?" asked Bent.
Mallalieu suddenly drank off the contents of his glass and rose.
"As I'm chief magistrate, I'd better go down to see the police," he said.

"There's been a queer character or two hanging about the town of late.

I'd better stir 'em up.

You won't come down, I suppose ?" he continued when they left the house together.
"No--we can do no good," answered Bent.
His own house was just across the road from Mallalieu's, and he and Brereton said goodnight and turned towards it as the Mayor strode quickly off in the direction of the police-station..