"I had it from the Town Clerk just now, so it's gospel truth," replied Peppermore. "The Local Government Board, sir, is, at last, moved to action! It's going to send down an inspector--a real full-fledged inspector! The Town Clerk is in a worse state of righteous indignation than I ever saw a man, and as for Mayor Simon Crood, I understand his anger is beyond belief. Mr. Brent, you've done it!" But Brent was not so sure. He had some experience of Government officials, and of official methods, and knew more of red tape than Peppermore did. As for Tansley, who came in soon after, he was cynically scornful. "Local Government Board Inspector!" he exclaimed scoffingly. "Pooh! some old fossil who'll come here--I'll tell you how! He'll ask for the responsible authorities. That's Simon Crood and Company. He'll hear all they've got to say. They'll say what they like. He'll examine their documents. The documents will be all ready for him. Everything will be nice and proper and in strict order, and every man will say precisely what he's been ordered to say--and there you are! The Inspector will issue his report that he's carefully examined everything and found all correct, and the comedy will conclude with the farce of votes of thanks all round! That's the line, Brent." "Maybe!" said Brent. "And only maybe!" "You're in a pessimistic vein, Mr. Tansley, sir," declared Peppermore. "Sir, we're going to clean out the Augean stable!" "Or perish in the attempt, eh, Peppermore?" retorted Tansley good-humouredly. "All right, my lad! But it'll take a lot more than _Monitor_ articles and Local Government Board inquiries to uproot the ancient and time-honoured customs of Hathelsborough. _Semper eadem_, Peppermore, _semper eadem_, that's the motto of this high-principled, respectably ruled borough. Always the same--and no change." "Except from bad to worse!" said Peppermore. "All right, sir; but something's going to happen, this time." Something did happen immediately following on the official announcement of the Local Government Board inquiry, and it was Tansley who told Brent of it. "I say," he said, coming up to Brent in the street, "here's a queer business--I don't know if you've heard of it. Mrs. Mallett's run away from her husband! Fact! She's cleared clean out, and let it be known too. Odd--mysteries seem to be increasing, Brent. What do you make of it?" Brent could make nothing of it. There might be many reasons why Mrs. Mallett should leave her husband. But had this sudden retreat anything to do with Mrs. Mallett's evidence at the inquest. He was speculating on this when he got a request from Hawthwaite to go round at once to his office. He responded immediately, to find the superintendent closeted with Dr. Wellesley. CHAPTER XIX BLACK SECRETS AND RED TAPE