The Inspector rose, went to the telephone, rang up Knightsbridge Barracks, and asked to speak to Captain Croome. Pollyooly heaved a sigh of relief when she heard him ask for him. Captain Croome presently came to the telephone; and the Inspector informed him of the arrest of Pollyooly. As a rule Captain Croome was a strong, silent man; but on the receipt of these tidings he swore at the metropolitan police with a fluency that at once assured the Inspector that he had to do with a gentleman. When Captain Croome had fully expressed all his opinions of the metropolitan police force, he said that he would at once motor round to the police station; and the Inspector bade Pollyooly to sit down.
She perched herself on a chair, with the Lump on her knee, and awaited the coming of the deliverer with a mind at ease. Captain Croome arrived in less than ten minutes; and perhaps it was well that his temper had calmed down to its usual amiability. He explained Pollyooly's real errand to the Inspector in private, assuring him that he had not really arrested a flower-seller at all but the Messenger of Love.
