Without a doubt Cotherstone had lost his head and done this foolish thing! And now Cotherstone must be protected, safe-guarded; heaven and earth must be moved lest suspicion should fall on him.

For nothing could be done to Cotherstone without effect upon himself--and of himself--and of himself Mallalieu meant to take very good care.

Never mind what innocent person suffered, Cotherstone must go free.
And the first thing to do was to assume direction of the police, to pull strings, to engineer matters.

No matter how much he believed in Harborough's innocence, Harborough was the man to go for--at present.
Attention must be concentrated on him, and on him only.
Anything--anything, at whatever cost of morals and honesty to divert suspicion from that fool of a Cotherstone!--if it were not already too late.

It was the desire to make sure that it was not too late, the desire to be beforehand, that made Mallalieu hasten to the police.