Inspector Aylesbury did not deign to reply, or could not trust himself to do so. He turned and made his way back to the house.
We reëntered the study to find Mrs. Camber sitting in a chair very close to her husband. Inspector Aylesbury stood in the open doorway for a moment, and then, stepping back into the hall:
"Sergeant Butler," he said, addressing the man who waited there.
"Go out to the gate and get Edson to relieve you. I shall want you to go back to headquarters in a few minutes."
I scented what was coming, and as Inspector Aylesbury reentered the room:
"I should like to make a statement," announced Paul Harley, quietly.
The Inspector frowned, and lowering his chin, regarded him with little favour.
"I have not invited any statement from you, Mr. Harley," said he.
"Quite," returned Harley. "I am volunteering it. It is this: I gather that you are about to take an important step officially. Having in view certain steps which I, also, am about to take, I would ask you to defer action, purely in your own interests, for at least twenty-four hours."
"I hear you," said the Inspector, sarcastically.
"Very well, Inspector. You have come newly into this case, and I assure you that its apparent simplicity is illusive. As new facts come into your possession you will realize that what I say is perfectly true, and if you act now you will be acting hastily. All that I have learned I am prepared to place at your disposal. But I predict that the interference of Scotland Yard will be necessary before this enquiry is concluded. Therefore I suggest, since you have rejected my cooperation, that you obtain that of Detective Inspector Wessex, of the Criminal Investigation Department. In short, this is no one-man job. You will do yourself harm by jumping to conclusions, and cause unnecessary trouble to perfectly innocent people."
"Is your statement concluded?" asked the Inspector.
"Oh, I see. Very good. Then we can now get to business. Always with your permission, Mr. Harley."
He took his stand before the fireplace, very erect, and invested with his most official manner. Mrs. Camber watched him in a way that was pathetic. Camber seemed to be quite composed, although his face was unusually pale.