“That’s queer,” he confided. “I had formed the same impression myself. Anyway, we will drop it for the present.”
She nodded assent.
“I wonder if you realise,” she said, “what a great holiday this is for me. I have never been in Norwich. I have not been in a car for years. I am enjoying myself thoroughly, and I am not going to think of another disagreeable thing. Please put me down wherever you like and when you have done your business, I will meet you wherever you say.”
“Have you any shopping to do, beyond your visit to the hairdresser?” he asked her.
“Shopping!” she repeated scornfully. “Why should I have any? Living the sort of life I do, one needs no clothes. One thing does as well as another. Still, the hairdresser will take a little time, and I can amuse myself very well looking at the shop windows.”
“I shall put you down in the market place,” he decided. “I shall be gone for about three quarters of an hour. At the end of that time I will meet you at the tea shop you can see on our right hand. After that, if we have any time to spare, we will look round the place together. Is that agreed?”
“Delightful!” she assented.
The Chief Constable was in and happy to see Mr. Johnson. He was an amiable ex-officer, as competent as could be expected, and exceedingly popular in the county, of which he was a native.
“I am Major Holmes,” he announced, glancing at the card which he still held in his hand. “What can I do for you, Mr. Johnson?”