ical
position of James at the moment of the inspector's call.

The baker who supplied Mr. Naylor had, as a result of a complaint from
his man, made a personal call of protest; but he had succeeded only in
losing his temper to Mr. Naylor and the seat of his trousers to James.
Thenceforth "The Cedars" had to seek its bread elsewhere. Incidentally
the master-baker obtained a new pair of trousers at Mr. Naylor's
expense.

Why Mr. Naylor continued to keep James was a puzzle to all the
neighbours, who, knowing him as a champion of the rights of man, votes
for women, the smaller nations, and many other equally uncomfortable
things, were greatly surprised that he should keep a dog that was
clearly of a savage and dangerous disposition.

About Mr. Naylor himself there was nothing of the ferocity of his dog.
He was suave, with a somewhat deprecating manner, a ready, almost
automatic smile, in which his eyes never seemed to join, a sallow
complexion, large round glasses, a big nose and ugly teeth. He had a
thick voice, thick ears and a thick skin--when it so served his purpose.

His love for England was almost alien, and he was never tired of
motoring from one part of the country to another, that is before the
war. His car had been something unique, as in a few seconds it could
be turned into a moderately comfortable sleeping apartment. Thus he
was independent of hotels, or lodgings.

Mrs. Naylor was a woman of negative personality. She looked after the
house, fed James and never asked questions of Mr. Naylor, thus
justifying her existence.

Susan, the maid, was also negative, from her stupid round, moist face
to the shapeless feet that she never seemed to be able to lift from the
floor. She had acquired great dexterity in shuffling out of the way
just before Mr. Naylor appeared. This she seemed to have reduced to a
fine art. If Mr. Naylor were going upstairs and Susan was about to
descend, by the time he was halfway up she would have disappeared as
effectively as if snatched away by some spirit agency. Susan was dumb;
but her sense of sound was extremely acute. It seemed as if, conscious
of her inability to hold her own verbally with her employer, she had
fallen back upon the one alternative, disappearance.

The Naylors were possessed of few friends, although Mr. Naylor had many
acquaintances, the result of the way in which he had identified himself
with local clubs and institutions. It was largely due to him t