Constable Guard Thyself!

“This is my Chief Clerk’s office, General.”Captain Scole, Chief Constable of Brodshire, threw open the door of a small ill-lit room, lined with shelves and filing cabinets. A uniformed police-officer, who was sitting at the big roll-top desk, rose quickly to his feet and stood to attention.“Ah, it’s you, Inspector; I’d forgotten Mr. Jason was going off this afternoon.”Captain Scole turned to his companion, a rather short, military-looking man with brushed-up moustache too large for his body, and bright blue eyes.“This is Inspector Tallard, who acts as deputy to the Chief Clerk. Superintendent Jason is away for two or three days for his sister’s wedding. I’ll introduce him to you some other time. Wretched room this; I’m hoping to persuade your Committee to build us some new headquarters when things get better.”The General, however, was taking less interest in the room than in its occupant.“Have we met before, Inspector?” he asked. “Were you in the Brodshires? I’m General Cawdon; I commanded the 7th Battalion in ’18.”