On the left-hand side of the road, an immense enclosed field had as the sign over its road gate, PARKING, is 6d. Though petrol was supposed to be scarce, you would not have learned this by the glow of sun winking on the backs of so many cars. On the other side of the road seethed mild pandemonium.
The broad iron-grilled gates stood wide open. The head of a perspiring ticket-seller stretched out over the half-door of the gate-keeper's lodge. From the opposite side, hoarsely, rose the chant of a man with vari-coloured balloons and white hats bearing such mottoes as Kiss Me Quick,
As Martin crossed the road from the parking-lot with Ricky, Stannard, and Ruth, a police-car containing Masters and H.M. drew up not far from the gates. Then Martin noticed, stuck on each side of the wall at the gates, a huge poster showing an equally huge photograph of the Dowager Countess, wearing a tiara and a smile. Underneath, signed and in red letters, ran what was clearly a quotation from a letter.
"If the civic authorities of Brayle attempt to prevent this fair, or so much as set foot inside the park, I shall sue them for five thousand pounds." Several newcomers were reading it with stunned admiration. "Now listen, sir!" Martin heard the Chief Inspector's voice hiss. "You're going to behave yourself?"
An empurpled visage appeared above the shoulder of Ruth Callice.
"What d'ye mean, behave myself?" the face demanded.
This was the last Martin could catch, since they were pressing through the swirl of the crowd. To his surprise be saw Dr. Laurier up ahead. After procuring their tickets, feeling the gravel of the broad drive crunch under their feet they seemed to be in clearer space while voices and music rolled over them.
"Kick the football! Kick the football, burst a balloon, and win a fine prize!"
"'Ow's yer strength, gen'lemen? 'Ow's yer strength? 'Ere we—"
The churning, tinkling melody of the merry-go-round, blowing hard with steam-pressure, swept across the voices like mist. Another (alleged) melody, made even more ghoulish by a loud-speaker and a deep voice singing, intruded.