," she said. "Our
household is sma'."

"Oh, of course! I quite understand, Mrs. Kerry! So sorry. But so good of
you."

"Might I offer ye a glass o' sherry an' a biscuit?"

"I simply couldn't dream of troubling you! Please don't suggest such a
thing. I feel covered with guilt already. Many thanks nevertheless."

Mary Kerry withdrew, leaving Mollie alone. As soon as the door closed
Mollie stood up and began to inspect the trophies in the cabinet. She
was far too restless and excited to remain sitting down. She looked
at the presentation clock on the mantelpiece and puzzled over the
signatures engraved upon a large silver dish which commemorated the joy
displayed by the Criminal Investigation Department upon the occasion of
Kerry's promotion to the post of Chief Inspector.

The door opened and Kerry came in. He had arisen and completed his
toilet in several seconds less than five minutes. But his spotlessly
neat attire would have survived inspection by the most lynx-eyed
martinet in the Brigade of Guards. As he smiled at his visitor with
fierce geniality, Mollie blushed like a young girl.

Chief Inspector Kerry was a much bigger man than she had believed him to
be. The impression left upon her memory by his brief appearance at the
night club had been that of a small, dapper figure. Now, as he stood in
the little drawing-room, she saw that he was not much if anything below
the average height of Englishmen, and that he possessed wonderfully
broad shoulders. In fact, Kerry was deceptive. His compact neatness and
the smallness of his feet and hands, together with those swift, lithe
movements which commonly belong to men of light physique, curiously
combined to deceive the beholder, but masked eleven stones (*note: 1
stone = 14 pounds) of bone and muscle.

"Very good of you to offer information, miss," he said. "I'm willing to
admit that I can do with it."

He opened a bureau and took out a writing-block and a fountain pen. Then
he turned and stared hard at Mollie. She quickly lowered her eyes.

"Excuse me," said Kerry, "but didn't I see you somewhere last night?"

"Yes," she said. "I was sitting just inside the door at--"

"Right! I remember," interrupted Kerry. He continued to stare. "Before
you say any more, miss, I have to remind you that I am a police officer,
and that you may be called upon to swear to the truth of any information
you may give me."

"Oh, of course! I know."

"You know? Very well, then; we