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of me quick enough, wouldn’t you?’
    â€˜I’m not a great reader,’ said Inspector Chatto. ‘But I do know of these. Private detectives in novels, aren’t they?’
    â€˜That’s right,’ said Beef. ‘And that’s what I am, or what I ought to be if Mr Townsend here was as good at his job as I am at mine. Five cases I’ve handled, inspector, and got the answer every time, though Inspector Stute himself will tell you…’
    â€˜I know him, of course.’
    I saw that it was time to interrupt.
    â€˜Inspector,’ I said firmly, ‘my friend here talks a little impulsively at times. But what he says is substantially true. He is, in fact, a very clever investigator, and Inspector Stute will acknowledge his indebtedness to Beef on more than one occasion. I do trust you won’t be put off by my friend’s rather rough appearance and manner. I feel sure he can be of assistance to you. He is retained in this case by Miss Shoulter.’
    Inspector Chatto lit a cigarette. He seemed rather amused.
    â€˜I have no wish at all to discourage amateurs,’ he said. ‘And I’m quite prepared to believe that Sergeant Beef may be of assistance to us. But what exactly do you mean when you say that he is “retained” by Miss Shoulter?’
    This was awkward. Beef had the sense to keep quiet and leave it to me.
    â€˜Er – Miss Shoulter is under the impression that the police believe her brother’s death to be suicide. She is convinced that it is nothing of the sort. She wishes Sergeant Beef to collect any evidence there may be to that effect.’
    Inspector Chatto was smiling openly now.
    â€˜And if I tell you that the police are convinced of the same thing?’
    â€˜You mean?’
    â€˜I mean it was murder.’
    There was an awkward silence.
    â€˜In that case the only honourable thing for Sergeant Beef to do will be to tell Miss Shoulter that since the police are now convinced, there is no need for her to employ him.’
    Inspector Chatto looked at both of us.
    â€˜You were expecting to get a book out of this, Mr, er –’
    â€˜Townsend. Yes, I did rather hope -’
    â€˜Exacdy. Well, frankly I see no reason for the two of you to leave. It
is
an interesting little case. And at present I’ll tell you frankly we haven’t much in the way of a clue. Since you’ve come down here you may as well wait for the inquest.’
    â€˜That’s very friendly of you, inspector.’
    Beef nodded towards the stack of papers.
    â€˜What about telling me what you’ve got?’ he asked crudely.
    Inspector Chatto chuckled.
    â€˜I see no objection,’ he said. ‘I should rather like to go over the case from the beginning. It might clear my ideas a bit. Watts-Dunton, d’you think your good lady could manage a cup of tea for us?’
    Watts-Dunton’s face came as near to producing a smile as its gaunt features would allow it.
    â€˜She’s got the kettle on now,’ he said.
    â€˜Then let’s get down to it,’ said Chatto.
    So in this amiable atmosphere, which Beef really owed to my ready apology for him and my explanation of his abilities, we were taken into the confidence of the police.

CHAPTER NINE
Police Confidences
    â€˜W HAT you want to know, of course,’ began Inspector Chatto, ‘is what makes us think it was murder. That’s simple enough: The corpse was found with a length of red tape round his foot which was attached to the trigger of the gun. The inference being that he held the gun in an upright position, leaned over it and fired it with his foot. His head in that case could not have been more than eighteen inches at the most away from the gun. Now, if you care to read the medical evidence and the report of the ballistics expert you will find that in point of fact the gun was at least four yards, possibly more, from Shoulter when it was fired.’
    Beef