"No, sir. But your--private information could hardly be withheld from them--as it has been withheld from us!"
Even the politician's studied reserve was not proof against that thrust. He started. Chief-Inspector Sheffield, after all, was a man to be counted with. A silence fell between them--to be broken by the Home Secretary.
"Your frankness pleases me, Inspector Sheffield."
"I perceive that you would make a bargain. I am to take you into my confidence, and you, in turn, hope to render any employment of the Fund unnecessary?"
"Whatever you tell me, sir, will go no farther--not to one other living. Better confide in me than in a political agent. Then, you can't have anything more incriminating than this."
He took a card from his pocket and placed it before Mr. Belford.
"I shall always be indebted to you and to Miss Oppner, but I can assure you of Sir Richard's safety.
"No one has seen that but myself," continued the detective. "I know better! But anything further you can let me have, sir, will help me to get them out of the tangle: that's what I'm aiming at!"
Mr. Belford's expression had changed when the damning card was placed before him; but his decision was quickly come to. He opened a drawer of the writing table.
"Here," he said, passing a sheet of foolscap to the inspector, "is the plan of international co-operation which--I will return candour for candour--the increasing importance of the case renders expedient. It was drawn up by my friend the Foreign Secretary. It ensures secrecy, dispatch, and affords no loophole by which Bablon can escape us."
His manner had grown brisk. The dilettante was lost in the man of action.
Inspector Sheffield read carefully through the long document and returned it to Belford, frowning thoughtfully.
"Thank you, sir," he said; "and what else?"
"You are aware that, owing to the family complications referred to, I have been employing Mr. Paul Harley, the private detective?"
"He has secured other letters, incriminating a Mr. Sheard, of the staff of the _Gleaner_; Sir Richard Haredale, of the ---- Guards; Miss Zoe Oppner; and ... well--you know the worst--my niece, again!" The inspector drew a long, deep breath.
"Next to Victor Lemage, who's also an accomplice," he said admiringly, "I don't mind admitting that Harley is the smartest man in the business. But in justice to us, sir, you must remember that our hands are tied. A C.I.D. man isn't allowed to do what Harley can do."