Graham now made sure his guests were comfortable, and ordered tea to be sent in to them. Then he opened a drawer in his capacious desk and produced a small box.
‘A cigarette, Miss Trent?’ he said, placing the box before her.
Steve noticed the cigarettes were a brown colour and she hesitated before accepting one.
‘They’re Russian,’ explained Sir Graham. ‘I’m sure you’ll like them.’
After Temple had offered her a light, Steve slowly commenced her story. She was slightly nervous at first, but gradually gained confidence.
‘It’s an interesting story, Miss Trent,’ said Sir Graham Forbes as she came to the end. ‘Er—very interesting. You say that from the very beginning your brother was under the impression that the brains behind these robberies was this man—er—Max Lorraine – the man who calls himself “The Knave of Diamonds”?’
‘Yes.’
Sir Graham turned to the novelist. ‘What do you think of all this, Temple?’
‘Well, Sir Graham,’ he replied, ‘I don’t think there’s any doubt that we are up against a definite criminal organization whose activities are directed by a man who is, well to say the least of it, out of the ordinary run of criminals.’
‘Yes, I agree with you there,’ the Commissioner replied. ‘But that doesn’t necessarily mean that we are up against this man Miss Trent talks about, the Knave of Diamonds.’
‘No, but nevertheless I think we are, Sir Graham,’ replied the novelist. ‘Harvey was no fool. Harvey was convinced in his own mind that we were up against the Knave – and he was murdered!’
‘What makes you so certain that Harvey was murdered?’
‘It was as obvious as daylight,’ Temple replied. ‘He was holding the revolver in his left hand, and the poor devil had been shot through the back of his head. It was on the left side of his head, and Harvey was left-handed all right, but I hardly think he was a contortionist into the bargain.’
‘Yes, that’s true,’ agreed the Commissioner. ‘Harvey was murdered.’ He said it not merely in agreement and acceptance of Temple’s argument, but revealing what actually was thought at the Yard. ‘We spotted it immediately,’ he went on. ‘I was surprised the doctor didn’t.’
‘The police doctor was down with the flu,’ Temple informed him. ‘A Dr. Milton came along with the sergeant – he’s a retired medico who happens to be an acquaintance of mine.’ He paused, then added thoughtfully: ‘Still, I must admit I thought it was rather funny he never noticed it.’
They paused while the Commissioner poured out more tea for them. Then he turned to Steve.
‘Miss Trent, when was the last time you saw your brother?’
‘Shortly before he visited Mr. Temple,’ she replied.
‘Oh, I see. Did he seem cheerful and in normal health?’
‘Yes, I think so,’ answered Steve. ‘We never really saw a great deal of one another, you know, Sir Graham. My work kept me busy quite a lot, and he was always dashing out of town on some case or other.’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘I saw Merritt last night,’ said Temple suddenly, ‘and he told me about this business at Leamington. Did you hold the driver of the lorry?’
‘Yes,’ the Commissioner replied. ‘You were right about that, by the way. It was Skid Tyler.’
‘Have you questioned him?’
‘Not yet. Merritt’s bringing him here this afternoon. I’ve got a feeling that Tyler might talk.’
‘Yes, he might,’ replied Temple, inwardly marvelling at the amount of personal interest the Commissioner was taking in the case. He was certainly not underestimating its importance, and by undertaking work he normally had to leave entirely to the chiefs of the C.I.D., he showed the effect the robberies, as well as the Press agitation, had made on him.
‘I don’t expect he’ll know a great deal,’ the Commissioner continued; ‘he’s most probably one of the small fry. On the other hand, you never can tell.’
Paul Temple thought it was time he changed the subject. So far, the visit had been more or less confined to a discussion of Steve’s story. He had not yet been told why Chief Inspector Dale had telephoned to arrange an appointment.
‘Sir Graham—’ he started.
‘Yes?’
‘Why did you send for me this afternoon?’
The Commissioner coughed. He proceeded to look embarrassed, as embarrassed as he had been when they were originally ushered into his office.
‘Yes, I’ve—er—I’ve been waiting for you to ask that question,’ he said.
‘Well, Sir Graham?’
‘Ever since these robberies first started, there has been a definite campaign both in the newspapers, and amongst a certain section of the public, urging us to—er—to—’
‘To Send for Paul Temple?’ put in Steve.
‘Yes, Miss Trent. To—er—send for Paul Temple,’ the Commissioner agreed. ‘Well, I don’t mind telling you, Temple, the whole damned campaign got me rattled. I was convinced in my own mind that there was nothing you could possibly do in this matter. Now, however, I’m not so certain.’ He hesitated a moment before continuing.
‘You see, Temple, and I’m sure I can speak in confidence before Miss Trent, there are certain aspects of this business which are very confusing and which, instead of getting clearer, tend towards leading us further and further into a confusing mass of what seems to be on the surface melodramatic nonsense. But is it nonsense? That’s just the point. Now take all this business about “The Green Finger”.’
He paused and slowly lit another cigarette.
‘We know that “The Little General” used to be called “The Green Finger”. We know that the night watchman murmured “The Green Finger” before he died. But what does it mean? What is “The Green Finger”?
‘And then, secondly, there’s the matter of the district. That’s been puzzling me a lot lately. Why should this organization confine its activities entirely to the Midlands?’ Once again the Commissioner paused, as if endeavouring to underline the importance of his words.
‘And there’s yet another point,’ he continued, ‘and believe me, a very important one. How, in heaven’s name, are they getting the stuff out of the country – and they must be getting the stuff out of the country, because if it was still over here, you can take it from me, Temple, we’d have it back in twenty-four hours!’
Temple nodded. He appreciated only too well the significance of Sir Graham’s words.
‘The Press have been very irritating over this affair,’ continued the Commissioner,
