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."
"Whatever you say, Inspector," Gees assured him blandly, "will not be used as evidence against you."
"I wish we had you back in uniform again," Tott observed, rather wistfully.
Gees shook his head. "My fee for an initial consultation is two guineas. I wouldn't get that in uniform."
"I know what you'd get from me," Tott replied grimly.
"We both know," Gees assured him.
For a few seconds the inspector simply glared. "You remember that Kestwell case?" he asked eventually.
Gees nodded. "You wanted to arrest me."
"Yes--that's the point," Tott said. "You got Mr. Briggs to come along and prevent that arrest." Tott paused. "I believe they think a lot of Mr. Briggs at the Foreign Office." Again Tott paused. Finally, as if the words were torn from him, he blurted: "I suppose you've heard that Mr. Briggs has got engaged to be married?"
"I have, now. From you. Who is the lady? I must ring up Tony and congratulate him."
"It's because he's not to be congratulated that I'm sitting here," Tott said slowly. "You've heard of Lady Benderneck, I expect?"
"There is also a Buckingham Palace," Gees observed pensively.
"Yes, I thought you had. Well she sponsored this Miss Kefra--Cleo Kefra. Mr. Briggs met her and--well, lost his head over her. And the engagement was announced day before yesterday."
"The old hag would sponsor anything, at a price," Gees remarked. "Cleo Kefra. Sounds a bit exotic."
"Is, I assure you," Tott said, and made a grim comment. "Well, I've got a great respect for Mr. Briggs, and I've seen the lady," Tott told him. "I'd hate to see a gentleman like him trapped."
"What is wrong with Miss Kefra?" Gees asked.
Tott shook his head. "You'd better see her for yourself," he answered. "Mr. Briggs is a friend of yours, I know. There's nothing wrong with her--nothing that I can put a finger on, but--"
"Inspector, Briggs is pretty levelheaded, and I don't see any possibility of interfering, even i