Between you and me, sir, remarked Japp, "I'd sooner have any amount of rumours than be arrested for murder. 
He believes that being arrested is a much better outcome than have rumours about it.
mnli hypothesis: He believes that being arrested is a much better outcome than have rumours about it. premise: Between you and me, sir, remarked Japp, "I'd sooner have any amount of rumours than be arrested for murder. 