"Men won't till they must," he said. "It's Must has been the making of Man. He'll try when he's got to, and not a moment before."
Ten minutes later Colonel and Mrs. Lewknor were walking down Church Street towards the station. Just in front of them a woman and two men were marching a-breast. The woman was flanked by her comrades.
"What a contrast those two men make," remarked the Colonel. "That feller Burt's like a bull!"
"Too like," retorted Mrs. Lewknor sharply. "Give me the fellow who's like a gentleman."
The Colonel shook his head.
"Flame burns too feebly."
"But it burns pure," snapped the little lady.
Both parties had reached the foot of the hill at the Goffs when the woman in front swerved. It was the motion of the bird in flight suddenly aware of a man with a gun. She passed through the stile and fled swiftly across Saffrons Croft. The men with her, evidently taken by surprise, followed.
Only the Colonel saw what had happened.
A tall man, coming from the station, had turned into Alf's garage.