Free Here Comes the Toff by John Creasey

information.”
    â€œIt was worth it. Would ten bring any more?”
    â€œNo, sir, not in my opinion. The servant, a naturalized German named Schmidt, does not appear to have a high opinion of his late employer, whom he complains gambles excessively, and is often without money. But he continues to live well.”
    â€œYe-es. Keep an eye, or let someone else keep an eye, on friend Schmidt. Now what about Renway?”
    â€œNothing very startling, sir. You know most of what there is to know. He has recently retired from business …”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHe has retired from business, and …”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    Jolly looked hurt.
    â€œOf course, sir. May I ask why you consider the question necessary?”
    â€œYes, you may. Sir Matthew Waterer claimed that it was past time that Renway retired, and suggested that he was no longer fit for business, Jolly. How long have these retirements been effective?”
    â€œHe was on the boards of several companies, sir, and relinquished the last in the spring of this year. The Bi-National Electric Corporation, I am told.”
    â€œHmm—a sound enough concern,” said the Toff, who knew something about companies, particularly those which were in any way unsound. “Right, Jolly, it will all help. You may now listen to me.”
    Jolly listened, proving a better listener than the Toff, for he made no interruptions. When the Toff had given him a resume of his adventures, Jolly remained silent for some seconds, and then pulled tentatively at his underlip.
    â€œWhy did you see McNab, sir?”
    â€œWhy not?” asked the Toff, and then more generously: “It was as well, Jolly. I want to know all I can about this business, and we’re by no means sure of getting to the Sidey angle now that Sidey is dead. McNab can help us more about him than we can help ourselves, and we’ll know just what he has been doing of late. If the police know, of course, which is by no means a certainty. However, we can but live in hope. The main issues, then, Jolly, are: “First—Irma and Kohn are working on Renway.
    â€œSecond—Renway is lousy with money, without-business interests, with one nephew—we haven’t met him yet—and an eye for beauty as represented by Irma. Also a collection of Old Masters is in his possession.
    â€œThree—Charlie Wray is concerned in the business, and his man, Benson, killed Sidey …”
    â€œIs that a fact, sir?”
    â€œYou may accept it as one, but I haven’t enough evidence to take to McNab, and if I had I doubt whether I would. I want to save that for the time being, Jolly, it might be useful if we ever want to talk to Benson. Don’t interrupt, and where was I? Oh, yes:
    â€œFour—Wray does not approve of my sudden interest, and doubtless will soon suspect something about the boot.”
    â€œDare I ask, sir, what boot?”
    â€œMy dear Jolly,” said the Toff with some show of indignation, “the boot is the key to the whole business, the one thing that lifts it out of the rut. Sidey was killed by Benson, when Benson had nothing on his feet but socks. If he wears socks. I wonder how many other murders have been committed with stockinged feet? Or by a man wearing no shoes or boots? Try to visualize the psychological effect of that boot which I gave to Irma—she stumbled over it—and the fact that there is another boot missing. Imagine what happens to Benson and Charlie Wray when they know all about the boot I sent back, and nothing about the boot I still hold. They’ll know that someone was close enough at hand to see and hear that murder, it will have them so jittery that they’ll always be looking over their shoulder. Have I made the significance of the boot clear?”
    â€œPerfectly, sir, thank you.”
    â€œRight. Then we’re all set for sparks. Irma and Kohn are in the middle of something, they would not