Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/265

“Well, I don’t know, Charlie. It might be better to keep him in the dark even on that point.”

“Not if we pretend we hold no suspicion whatever. We will assume instead a keen delight. Now we know he has every reason to help us, and the skies brighten above our weary heads.”

“Well, you handle him, Charlie.”

A few moments later Tarneverro strode debonairly into the room. His manner was aloof and a bit condescending, as though he found himself in quaint company but was man of the world enough to be at home anywhere. He nodded at Charlie.

“Ah, Inspector, I waited for you a long time. I'd about given you up.”

“A thousand of my humblest apologies,” Chan returned. “I was detained by heavy weight of business. May I present my honored Chief?”

The fortune-teller bowed. “A great pleasure. How are you getting on, Inspector? I’ve been very eager to know.”

“Natural you should be. Only a moment ago did we peak fact which makes us realize how deep your interest is.”

Tarneverro glanced at him keenly. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean we discover that Denny Mayo was your brother.”

Tarneverro stepped over and laid his walking-stick on a desk. The act, it seemed, gave him a moment for thought.

“It’s true, Inspector,” he remarked, facing Chan again. “I don’t know how you found it out——”

Charlie permitted himself a quiet smile of satisfac-