“I’m waiting for you,” said Lomas quietly. “There’s a new fact. Three thousand pounds has been paid into Sandford’s account. It was handed in over the counter in notes of small amounts yesterday morning. Cashier fancies it was paid in by a stoutish man in glasses--couldn’t undertake to identify.” “It’s a wicked world, Lomas. That wouldn’t matter so much if it was sensible. Some day I will take to crime, just to show you how to do it. Who is Sandford, what is he, that such queer things happen round him?” “I don’t know so much about queer, sir,” said Superintendent Bell. “I suppose this three thousand is his share of the swag.” “That’s what we’re meant to suppose,” Reggie agreed. “That’s what I resent.” “You mean, why the devil should he have it put in the bank? He must know his account would be watched. That’s the point I took,” said Lomas wearily. “Well, sir, as I was saying, it’s the usual sort of thing,” Superintendent Bell protested. “When a city gang has bought a fellow in a good position and got all they can get out of him, it often happens they don’t care any more about him. They’d rather break him than not. It happened in the Bewick affair, the Grantley deal----” He reeled off a string of cases. “What I mean to say, sir, there isn’t honour among thieves. When they see one of themselves in a decent position, they’ll do him in if they can. Envy, that’s what it is. I suppose we’re all envious. But in my experience, when a fellow isn’t straight he gets a double go of envy in him. I mean to say, for sheer spiteful envy the crooks beat the band.” Reggie nodded. “Do you know, Bell, I don’t ever remember your being wrong, when you had given an opinion. By the way, what is your opinion?” Superintendent Bell smiled slowly. “We do have to be so careful, sir. Would you believe it, I don’t so much as know who did the open-air work in the Coal Ramp. There was half a dozen firms in the boom, quite respectable firms. But who had the tip first, and who was doing the big business, I know no more than the babe in arms.” “Yes, there’s some brains about,” Lomas agreed. But Reggie, who was watching the Superintendent, said, “What’s up your sleeve, Bell?” The Superintendent laughed. “You do have a way of putting things, Mr. Fortune.” He lit a cigarette and looked at his chief. “I don’t know what you thought of Mr. Sandford, Mr. Lomas?” “More do I, Bell,” said Lomas. “I only know he’s not a man and a brother.” “What I should describe as a lonely cove, sir,” Bell suggested. “Chiefly interested in himself, you might say.” “He’s a climber,” said Lomas. “Well, well! Who is Sandford--what is he, that all the world don’t love him?” Reggie asked. “Who was his papa? What was his school?” “Well, now, it’s rather odd you should ask that, sir,” said Superintendent Bell.