Secret of the River by Fred M. White

The firm of Haywood and Co. occupied three modest rooms high up in a building in Crutched Friars, and consisted of the elder Haywood, a man now practically past business, and his son Alfred. A clerk or two, and a typist in an outer office, comprised the staff. Ostensibly, they were a firm of outside brokers, buying and selling on commission, and doing a certain amount by means of correspondence. Not exactly a shady firm, but one of little importance and carrying no weight whatever amongst their more prosperous neighbours.

It was some time on the Monday morning following the disaster on the river that Alfred Haywood sat in his office awaiting the arrival of Murray and Sidey. He was an individual on the small side, with light hair and eyelashes, and giving the impression of one of poor physique.