Richard had sufficient tact not to put any sign of reproof or anger into his tone. He accepted Micky’s spying as a thing of course. They walked along the boreen together and up the high-road towards Hockliffe.
‘Now,’ said Richard, ‘we can talk at our ease here; we shan’t be overheard.’
‘What does your honour want to talk about?’ asked Micky, with a great air of innocence.
‘You can drop the “your honour,” and all that rigmarole, my friend, and tell me who you really are. To prevent any unnecessary untruths, I may as well tell you at the start that I found Goron’s Memoirs in the pocket of your coat in the harness-room yesterday morning. From that moment I knew you were playing a part here.’
‘Yes--if it pleases you--like me. What I want to know is, are you a detective?’
‘And what I want to know is,’ said Micky, who had abandoned most of his Irish accent, ‘what are you?’
‘Let us not beat about the bush,’ said Richard impatiently. ‘You’re a decent chap, so am I. I will begin by confessing that I am a private inquiry agent employed by the British and Scottish Bank.’
‘Oh,’ said Micky, ‘I knew it was something of that sort Have you ever heard of a detective named Nolan?’
‘I am glad to meet you,’ said Richard. ‘Of course, I know you well by reputation. How thoroughly you go into an affair! Fancy you acting as odd man here for weeks! I tell you you have completely imposed on them.’
‘Have I?’ exclaimed Micky--or Nolan, as he must now be called. ‘I should be glad to be assured of that. Twice to-day I have feared that Raphael Craig had his doubts of me.’
‘I don’t think so for a moment,’ said Richard positively. ‘But what is your object--what is Scotland Yard after? Personally, I came here without any theories, on the chance of something turning up.’
‘Scotland Yard is merely curious about the suicide--if it was a suicide--of a man named Featherstone, and about the plague of silver which has visited this district during the last year or two.’
‘You say “if it was a suicide.” Do you suspect that Featherstone’s death was due to anything else?’
‘I never suspect until I know, Mr. Redgrave. I am here with an open mind.’
‘And what have you discovered so far?’ asked Richard.
‘My very dear sir,’ Nolan expostulated, ‘what do you take me for? I am sure that you are a man of unimpeachable honour--all private agents are--but, nevertheless, I cannot proclaim my discoveries to a stranger. It would be a breach of etiquette to do so, even if such a course were not indiscreet.’