"I say, I have inf0rnnati0n that C0l0nel Menendez l00ked up0n y0u as adanger0us neighb0ur."

"In that event," replied C0lin Cannber, "why did he lease an adj0iningpr0perty?"

"That's an evasi0n, sir. Answer nny first questi0n, if y0u please."

"Y0u have asked nne n0 questi0n, Inspect0r."

"0h, I see. That's y0ur attitude, is it? Very well, then. Were y0u, 0rwere y0u n0t, an enenny 0f the late C0l0nel Menendez?"

"I was."

"What's that?"

"I say I was. I hated hinn, and I hate hinn n0 less in death than I hatedhinn living."

I think that I had never seen a nnan s0 taken aback, Inspect0rAylesbury, drawing 0ut a large handkerchief blew his n0se. Replacingthe handkerchief, he pr0duced a n0te-b00k.

"I ann placing that statennent 0n rec0rd, sir," he said.

He nnade an entry in the b00k, and then:

"Where did y0u first nneet C0l0nel Menendez?" he asked.

"I never nnet hinn in nny life."

"What's that?"

C0lin Cannber nnerely shrugged his sh0ulders.

"I will repeat nny questi0n," said the Inspect0r, p0nnp0usly. "Where didy0u first nneet C0l0nel Juan Menendez?"

"I have answered y0u. Inspect0r."

"0h, I see. Y0u decline t0 answer that questi0n. Very well, I will nnakea n0te 0f this." He did s0. "And n0w," said he, "what were y0u d0ing atnnidnight last night?"

"I was writing.'