Reggie lay back in his chair and admired the bland fluency with which Lomas said nothing in reply to the parade-ground demands of Colonel Osbert. Colonel Osbert wanted to know (if we may reduce many sentences to one) what Lomas meant by refusing him possession of Sir Arthur Dean’s papers. And Lomas continued to reply that he meant nothing in particular. “Sudden death at Ascot--in the Royal Enclosure too,” he explained. “That’s very startling and conspicuous. The poor fellow hadn’t been ill, as far as we can learn. Naturally we have to seek for any explanation.” So at last Osbert came out with: “What, sir, you don’t mean to say, sir--suspect foul play?” “Oh, my dear Colonel, you wouldn’t suggest that?” “I, sir? Never entered my head. Poor dear Arthur! A shock, sir. A blow! Getting old, of course, like the rest of us.” “Ah, had he been failing?” said Reggie sympathetically. “Well, well, well. We none of us grow younger, sir.” Colonel Osbert shook his head. “But upon my soul, Mr. Lomas, I don’t understand the action of your department.” “I’m so sorry you should say that,” Lomas sighed. “Now I wonder if you have particular reason for wanting Sir Arthur’s papers at once?” “My good sir, I am his executor. It’s my duty to take charge of his papers.” “Quite, quite. Well, they’re all safe, you know. His death must have been a great shock to you, Colonel.” “Shock, sir? A blow, a blow. Poor dear Arthur!” “Yes, too bad,” Lomas mourned: and voice and face were all kindly innocence as he babbled on: “I suppose you heard about it from his son?” Colonel Osbert paused to clear his throat. Colonel Osbert stopped that one. “Major Dean? No, sir. No. Point of fact, I don’t know who the fellow was. Some fellow called me up on the ’phone and told me poor dear Arthur had fallen down dead on the course. Upon my soul, I was knocked over, absolutely knocked over. When I came to myself I rushed round to secure his papers.” “Why, did you think somebody would be after them?” “My dear sir!” Colonel Osbert protested. “Really, now really. It was my duty. Arthur was always very strict with his papers. I thought of his wishes.” “Quite, quite,” Lomas purred, and artless as ever he went on: “Mrs. Dean was round at the flat too.” “God bless my soul!” said Colonel Osbert. “I wonder if you could tell me: is there anyone who would have an interest in getting hold of his papers?” Colonel Osbert again cleared his throat. “I can tell you this, sir. I don’t understand the position of Mrs. Dean and her husband. And I shall be glad, I don’t mind owning, I shall be very glad to have poor dear Arthur’s papers in my hands.” “Ah, thank you so much,” said Lomas, and with bland adroitness got Colonel Osbert outside the door. “He’s not such a fool as he looks,” Reggie murmured. “But there’s better brains in it than his, Lomas old thing. A bad business, quite a bad business.”