“Anything missing, sir?” he asked.

Tallente swung the door to and came back to his chair.

“Yes!” he admitted.

“Can I make a note of the nature of the loss, sir?” the man asked, moistening his pencil.

“A political paper of some personal consequence,” Tallente replied.  “Its absence disquiets me.  It also confirms my belief that Palliser is lying doggo for a time.”

“A hint as to the contents of the missing paper would be very acceptable, sir,” Inspector Gillian begged.

Tallente shook his head.

“For the present,” he decided, “I can only repeat what I said a few moments ago—­I have given you just as much information as I feel inclined to.”

The inspector rose to his feet.

“My report will not be wholly satisfactory to Scotland Yard, sir,” he declared.

“My experience of the estimable body is that they take a lot of satisfying,” Tallente replied.  “Will you take anything before you go, Inspector?”

“Nothing whatever, thank you, sir.  At the risk of annoying you, I am bound to ask this question.  Will you tell me whether anything in the nature of blows passed between you and the Honourable Anthony Palliser, previous to his leaving your house?”

“I will not even satisfy your curiosity to that extent,” Tallente answered.

“It will be my duty, sir,” the inspector said ponderously, “to examine some of your servants.”

“Scotland Yard can do that for themselves,” Tallente observed.  “My wife and the greater part of the domestic staff left here for London a week ago.”

The representative of the law saluted solemnly.

“I am sorry that you have not felt inclined to treat me with more confidence in this matter, Mr. Tallente,” he said.

He took his leave then.  Tallente heard him conversing for some time with Robert and saw him in the garden, interviewing the small boy.  Afterwards, he climbed into his car and drove away.  Tallente opened his safe and once more let the little array of folded papers slip through his hands.  Then he rang the bell for Robert, who presently appeared.

“The inspector has quite finished with you?” his master asked.

Robert was a portly man, a little unhealthy in colour and a little short of breath.  He had been gassed in the war and his nerves were not what they had been.  It was obvious, as he stood on the other side of the table, that he was trembling.

“Quite, sir.  He was enquiring about Mr. Palliser.”

His master nodded.

“I am afraid he will find it a little difficult to obtain any information round here,” he remarked.  “There are certain things connected with that young man which may throw a new light upon his disappearance.”

“Indeed, sir?” Robert murmured.

Tallente glanced towards the safe.

“Robert,” he confided, “I have been robbed.”

The man started a little.