"Lately they weren't getting along so well."

"Well, Mr Fortescue was doing a lot of things that Mr Percival thought unwise. Mr Percival is always very careful and prudent. But suddenly his father didn't listen to him any more and Mr Percival was very upset."

"And they had a real row about it all?"

Inspector Neele was still probing.

"I don't know about a row… Of course, I realise now Mr Fortescue can't have been himself – shouting like that."

"Shouted, did he? What did he say?"

"He came right out in the typists' room –"

"So that you all heard?"

"Well – yes."

"And he called Percival names – abused him – swore at him…? What did he say Percival had done?"

"It was more that he hadn't done anything… he called him a miserable pettifogging little clerk. He said he had no large outlook, no conception of doing business in a big way. He said 'I shall get Lance home again. He's worth ten of you – and he's married well. Lance has got guts even if he did risk a criminal prosecution once – ' Oh dear, I oughtn't to have said that!" Miss Griffith , carried away as others before her had been under Inspector Neele's expert handling, was suddenly overcome with confusion.

"Don't worry," said Inspector Neele comfortingly. "What's past is past."

"Oh yes, it was a long time ago. Mr Lance was just young and high spirited and didn't really realise what he was doing."

Inspector Neele had heard that view before and didn't agree with it. But he passed on to fresh questions.

"Tell me a little more about the staff here."

Miss Griffith, hurrying to get away from her indiscretion, poured out information about the various personalities in the firm. Inspector Neele thanked her and then said he would like to see Miss Grosvenor again.