Page:Bailey - Call Mr Fortune (Dutton, 1921).djvu/67

56 Bell, greeted him heartily, introduced Mr. Gordon. "Am I de trop, as the French say?" said Superintendent Bell. "No? Thought it might be a council of war."

"Oh, is it war?" Reggie said.

"Well, you know, you've quarrelled with Inspector Mordan." The Superintendent shook his head at Reggie.

"I wouldn't dare. He quarrelled with me."

"Such a pity." The Superintendent smiled and rubbed his hands. "I ought to tell you, doctor, I quite approve of everything that Inspector Mordan has done."

"Splendid force, the police," Mr. Gordon lisped. "Wonderful force. So forcible."

"Including the arrest of Miss Weston?" Reggie asked. "Well, well. Any one else you'd like to arrest?"

"Any one you suggest, doctor? Now I ask you—what would you have done?"

"Oh, I'm not in the force."

"We do have to be so careful," the Superintendent sighed. "That's a handicap, that is. I wonder why you wanted me, doctor?"

"I'm frightened of your inspector. He's not chatty. I want to photograph the body."

The Superintendent turned to Gordon. "It's a taste, you know, that's what it is. He likes corpses.