The other lit a cigarette, a little awkwardly because of the pistol, of which he retained a wary hold, and viewed the detective through half-closed eyes.

“Don’t rush yourself. What’s the pay of a divisional detective inspector? A few hundreds a year. If you hang on and you’re lucky you may be a superintendent and get a bit more. A man with your ability and some capital could go far in some other line. Or you need not work at all if you don’t wish. I’ll give you fifteen thousand pounds and call it quits.”