“I’ll be candid, sir,” Mawson said, grimly. “There’s no one in this district I’m afraid to handle if he has to be handled. Excepting that he-woman. She’s ruddy dynamite. I’m more than glad that Headquarters sent you down here at once.”

“I was not sent, Mawson. I chose to come. The case promised interest, in view of the other murder. We’ll discuss that tonight. Tomorrow we’ll visit the scene and pay our respects to the Misses Answerth. May I hope for your co-operation?”

Mawson made no effort to hide his eagerness.

“Certainly, sir. Only too pleased to give a hand. Inspector Stanley didn’t want any co-operation when he came down on the Carlow drowning.”

“And failed to finalize it, Mawson,” Bony reminded. “I understand that you have been stationed here eight years, and therefore would know the district and the people as well as your own quarters and your family. I am familiar with Inspector Stanley’s attitude to the uniformed men. He cross-examined you, and you felt he was trying to trap you into making an error. Naturally, you were unable to give of your best. He wanted only the bald facts, I’m sure. In addition to facts, Mawson, I shall want from you opinions, suppositions, ideas. I shall want you to treat me as a colleague, and eventually as a friend. Thus we shall succeed.”

“Glad to hear it, sir. It’s like breathing fresh air to listen to you.”

“Good! Take your first breath by omitting the “sir” when there isn’t a third party present. I am Bony to all my friends. Even the Chief Commissioner calls me Bony to my face. Did you ever meet him?”

“Only on Passing-Out Parade.”

“Choleric, Mawson. Horrible blood pressure. I am sometimes concerned that he will drop dead before me… when damning and blasting me for declining to obey orders at the double. But at heart a kindly man, Mawson. Likemyself, Colonel Spendor is unable to suffer fools gladly or otherwise. So this is Edison.”