Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV Mr. Inspector Gillian of Barnstaple had no idea of denying his profession. He had travelled over in a specially hired motor-car, and he was wearing his best uniform. He rose to his feet at Tallente's entrance and saluted a little ponderously. " Mr. Andrew Tallente, sir? " he enquired. Tallente silently admitted his identity, waved the inspector back to his seat — the one high-backed and uncomfortable chair in the room — and took an easy- chair himself. " I have come over, sir," the man continued, " according to instructions received by telephone from Scotland Yard. My business is to ask you a few questions concerning the disappearance of the Honourable Anthony Palliser, who was, I am given to understand, your secretary." " Dear me! " Tallente exclaimed. " I had no idea that the young man's temporary absence from polite society would be turned into a melodramatic disappearance." The inspector took mental note of the levity in Tallente's tone, and disapproved. " The Honourable Anthony Palliser disappeared from here, sir, on Tuesday night last, the night of your return from London," he said. " I have come to ask you certain questions with reference to that disappear- " Go ahead," Tallente begged. " Care to smoke a cigar? " " Not whilst on duty, thank you, sir," was the dignified reply. " You will forgive my cigarette," Tallente observed, lighting one. " Now you can go ahead as fast as you like." " Question number one is this, sir. I wish to know whether Mr. Palliser's abrupt departure from the Manor was due to any disagreement with you? " " In a sense I suppose it was," the other acknowledged. " I turned him out of the house." The inspector did not attempt to conceal his gratification. He made a voluminous note in his pocketbook. "...