"
Inspector Badger was thunderstruck. Also he was visibly annoyed. The
salt which Mr. Jellicoe had so adroitly sprinkled on the constabulary
tail appeared to develop irritating properties, for when Thorndyke had
given him a brief outline of the facts he stuck his hands in his pockets
and exclaimed gloomily:
"Well, I'm hanged! And to think of all the time and trouble I've spent
on those damned bones! I suppose they were just a plant?"
"Don't let us disparage them," said Thorndyke. "They have played a
useful part. They represent the inevitable mistake that every criminal
makes sooner or later. The murderer will always do a little too much. If
he would only lie low and let well alone, the detective might whistle
for a clue. But it is time we were starting."
"Are we all going?" asked the inspector, looking at me in particular
with no very gracious recognition.
"We will all come with you," said Thorndyke; "but you will, naturally,
make the arrest in the way that seems best to you."
"It's a regular procession," grumbled the inspector; but he made no more
definite objection, and we started forth on our quest.
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