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criminal code, so that their law depended on judicial decisions whose interpretations were very difficult to follow, but the English system was altogether different from the Scottish, and quite a few of their own experts thought the Scottish system better: long groans, and pity the poor policeman).
    He turned it upside down, was aghast at finding several other notes on totally unconnected subjects because he had done this trick before, found a clean page, decided he didn’t care even if it did cause muddle, and wrote a heading saying ‘Experiment’ and underneath ‘At present no factual information – even the watch might have come from a different source.’ After biting his ball-point and lighting another cigarette he produced the following.
    â€˜Sole fact – the boy came to see me. Whatever there is in the tale there is some truth. Starting points otherwise nonexistent. No factual notes taken, nor even possible, Boy is 20–24, of intelligence and some training – i.e. secondary school and anyway a couple of university years. Presents himself well – carefully dressed, neat, well-spoken. Has sensitivity, intelligence and ability. Engagement by jeweller plausible. Origin Friesland, nothing known save father dead, and boy is largely independent following family conflict, but no money; job therefore imperative. That could only be checked by municipal enquiry but is plausible, thus so far acceptable. Nothing known of jeweller. Must have access to criminal file if only to confirm negative on this. Larry Saint – some personal observation: address etc. easily obtainable. L. S. – is it a pseudonym? – cf. identical initials. Observation Spui unlikely to tell anyone much, obviously, but worth an effort. Possibly the retired manager who has been mentioned, and assistant said to have been drunk.
    â€˜Approach to old man – since we have no standing or conceivable pretext whatever we must be very cautious – the slightest complaint would start a terrible hullabaloo: I am absolutely without any defence. All it comes down to is: The boy took trouble to come and find me. It is therefore reasonable to take trouble with him. I have no earthly excuse for just letting it drop. The boy wanted reassurance, and in a sense advice, but he also wanted help. I cannot neglect possibility that he needs help. That is a very unprofessional remark, and an unprofessional attitude. Quite. Hence the experimental nature of this whole notion.’ That would give him the reference he needed, and he would buy a new notebook and use it for‘case-notes’. And now, please, it is time to do some real work…
    *
    Van der Valk’s experiment in private detection might still never have come to anything had it not been for Inspector – now Commissaire – Kan and a rather awkward late afternoon appointment given him by his dentist. Kan, an infernally active, important, bald person, was now in charge of the Economics Squad: Van der Valk, who had been busy in the archives, met him in a corridor and was moved to ask a question.
    â€˜Do you know anything about a jeweller called Prins?’ Kan had always been fanatical about knowing absolutely everyone.
    â€˜Prins, Prins, aha yes, I’m with you, jeweller, antiques.’
    â€˜That’s what I said.’
    â€˜Anything known, mm, no, no, can’t say there is, never been any trouble there – unless it was before my time.’
    â€˜Archives have nothing, I already looked.’
    â€˜Nice job you’ve got – with us just for the day? Nothing like a day in the city, old chap, to sharpen up that provincial mind of yours, haha, remember me to your wife, do.’
    And was gone with bouncy footsteps. Always had been so tiresomely sure of himself; if Kan didn’t know it, it didn’t exist.
    Been right in one thing; he did always feel sharpened when in Amsterdam. He had been away for several years now, but