“He’s up there now right enough, sir. You ask any of the men up there an’ they’ll show you.”
Roger finished up the remains of his beer and put the tankard down on the counter with a business-like air.
“Well, Alec,” he said briskly. “Time we were getting along if we’re ever to get back to Elchester to-day.”
“You really are rather marvellous, you know, Roger,” Alec observed, as they set out along the road once more.
“I know I am,” Roger said candidly. “But why particularly?”
“Carrying on a chat with the landlord like that. I couldn’t have done it to save my life. I shouldn’t know what to say.”
“I suppose it comes naturally,” Roger replied complacently. “I’m a bit of what our American friends call a mixer. As a matter of fact, I thoroughly enjoy a yap with somebody like that; friend William, for instance. And it all comes in useful, you know; local colour and so on. But what about the information I was able to extract, eh?”
“Yes, we got a few more details, didn’t we?”
“Highly important ones, too. What do you make of Master Prince showing on his own account at Elchester? That puts him in rather an independent position, doesn’t it? And he wasn’t back till late last night, you see. It all tallies.”
“Yes, we seem to be on the right track this time.”