Not that the Chief Inspector was afraid of him; on the contrary, he meant to have him some day.

But not yet; he meant to get hold of him in his own time, properly and effectively according to the rules of the game.

The present was not the right time for attempting that feat, not the right time for many reasons, personal and of public service.

This being the strong feeling of Inspector Heat, it appeared to him just and proper that this affair should be shunted off its obscure and inconvenient track, leading goodness knows where, into a quiet (and lawful) siding called Michaelis.
And he repeated, as if reconsidering the suggestion conscientiously: "The bomb.

No, I would not say that exactly.