"
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.
CHAPTER XXIV
AN OFFICIAL MOVE
We reentered 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.
"Yes, sir."
"Go out to the gate and get Edson to relieve you. I shall want you to
go back to headquarters in a few minutes."
"Very good, sir."
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.
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