al strength.

Foyle felt that it was going to be no easy matter to win this man's
confidence. Yet he was determined to do so. Beyond the fact that he had
vanished when the murder was discovered, there was nothing so far to
suggest that he was the actual culprit. Certain it was, however, that he
must have knowledge of matters which would prove valuable. If he would
volunteer the information, well and good. The detective did not wish to
have to question him, for such a course, however advisable it might
appear, could be made to assume an ugly look in the hands of the astute
counsel, should the man be charged with the crime. Where by French or
American methods a statement might have been extracted by bullying or by
cross-examination, here it had to be extracted by diplomacy if possible.

Sullen and silent, Ivan alighted from the cab as it drew up under the
blue lamp outside King Street police station. He passed arm-in-arm with
Foyle up the steps. With a nod to the uniformed inspector in the outer
office, the superintendent led him into the offices set apart for the
divisional detachment of the Criminal Investigation Department. A
broad-shouldered man with side whiskers, who was writing at a desk,
looked up as they entered.

"Good morning, Mr. Norman," said Foyle. "This gentleman wants to tell me
something about the Grell case. Just give him a chair, will you, and
send in a shorthand writer who understands French to take a statement."

"I shall make no statement," broke in the Russian angrily, speaking in
French, but with a readiness that showed he was able to follow English.
"It's all a mistake--a mistake for which you will pay heavily."

"Ah! that's just what I wish to get at. There seems to be a little
confusion. Perhaps I have been over-zealous, but the fact is,
Monsieur--er--Bazarre, you are wearing a false moustache, and that
rather aroused my suspicions--see?"

His hand did not seem to move, yet a second later the heavy moustache
had been torn from the man's face. He started to his feet with an
exclamation. Foyle waved him back to his chair.

"I only wanted to feel sure that I was right. Now, monsieur, I want to
make it clear that I have no right to ask you anything. If you wish to
say anything, it will be taken down, and what action I take depends on
what you say."

Ivan scowled into the fire and preserved a stubborn silence. Whether he
knew it or not, he held all the advantage. Unless he committed himself