Accuse the Toff Read Free

gathering wrath, he added hastily. ‘Go on, I mean it, I’ve never ’eard of ’im.’
    â€˜You’ve never ’eard of the Toff?’ demanded Joe, practice of his preaching going to the winds in sheer surprise. Then witheringly: ‘And you call herself a policeman!’
    The younger man’s eyes widened, his eyes kindled, there was a note of satisfaction in his voice.
    â€˜The Toff ,is he? Strewth, he’s the bloke who helped old Gricey bottle up the black market.’ He peered towards the doorway which had swallowed Rollison while for some moments Joe was silent. Then, with heavy emphasis, the older man said: ‘That’s who he is. But not so much of the ‘Old Gricey’ when you’re on duty, you never know who’s passing here. Morning, sir,’ he added, as a dapper man passed with a brief nod. Then, sotto voce: ‘Yer see? That’s the Super from X Division, Chiswick; he might have heard and I’ll bet he’s going to see Superintendent Grice now. I wonder what’s up?’ added Joe reminiscently. ‘When the Toff blows in, something nearly always happens. I wouldn’t half like to be at that “chat” he’s having with Gricey.’
    â€˜Now, Joe,’ said the younger man reprovingly. ‘You’ll get overheard one of these days, talking disrespectful of the Super. You never know who’s passing by.’
    Joe glowered at him and stepped to the other side of the gate, thinking less of his spell of duty on guard than of the Toff and the stories which had built themselves up about that almost legendary figure.
    Â 

Chapter Two
Little Patches Of Ice
    Â 
    Superintendent Grice, tall, academic of appearance with a high forehead and large brown eyes, looked up when the door of his room opened and then started to his feet. He was dressed immaculately in brown and his smile of welcome emphasised the peculiar way in which his skin stretched across his nose and his cheeks, giving them an almost transparent look although he was not over-thin.
    â€˜Hallo, Rollison,’ he said with warmth and offered a hand. ‘What’s brought you?’
    â€˜Idleness, sloth and a delayed mail,’ Rollison answered. ‘I mean I had half an hour to spare. You’re looking well.’
    â€˜I’ve never seen you looking better,’ returned Grice and pulled up a chair. ‘Now that the pleasantries are over, what has brought you?’ He regarded the Toff expectantly: his manner said as clearly as Joe’s words that he did not believe that the Toff had come simply for the sake of a visit.
    Rollison chuckled.
    â€˜I’ve said my piece.’
    â€˜You’re an evasive beggar,’ declared Grice; ‘but I suppose I mustn’t try to alter you.’ He stretched back in his chair and locked his fingers behind his neck. ‘So without any ulterior motive you came in, just for the sake of a talk about old times. You wouldn’t waste my time. You’ve a fair idea of how busy I am.’
    â€˜Picture of a policeman hard at work,’ murmured the Toff, regarding the half-recumbent figure with some amusement. ‘Seriously, I—’ he paused and then shrugged. ‘I suppose if the truth were known, I’m intrigued by the Chiswick business.’
    Although the Superintendent did not alter his position or make any comment there was a noticeable alteration in his expression. His eyes narrowed a little and his lips tightened. He was balancing precariously on the back legs of his chair, swaying gently to and fro.
    Then: ‘Intrigued?’ he said heavily.
    â€˜Just that.’
    â€˜You aren’t natural,’ declared Grice and brought the front legs of his chair down so that in a moment he was sitting upright at the desk. ‘Why on earth should it intrigue you? A man who’s been trained to the limit, living under a considerable strain—you’d assume that,