“Reg Ditchling,” replied Hemingway promptly.
“You leave me tell it you meself!” said Mr. Biggleswade, affronted. “Reg Ditchling it was! "And wot might you be up to?" I says to 'im. "Nuthin", 'e says, scared-like. "Oh, nuthin' is it?" I says to 'im. "And 'oo give you that rifle, my lad?" I says. Then 'e 'ands me a lot of sauce, and makes off, and I went up to the Red Lion to 'ave a pint afore me tea.”
“Yes!” interjected his daughter. “And when I went up to fetch you home it was all of seven o'clock, and Mr. Crailing told me you'd been there half an hour!”
Hobkirk, who had edged himself up to the Chief Inspector, said for his private ear: “That's right, what she says, sir, but make the silly old fool listen to a word of sense—I can't! I'll have a few words to say to Reg Ditchling when I get hold of him, borrowing guns he's got no right to have, but if he did any shooting on the common that day it was a good hour before Mr. Warrenby was killed. And I wouldn't believe that old rascal, not if he was to swear to it on his Bible-oath! It's all on account of old Mr. Horley being interviewed for the local paper the day he was ninety! Nothing'll do for Biggleswade but to get into the papers as well, with his picture!”
“Well, I hope he manages to pull it off,” said Hemingway, watching appreciatively the spirited way in which Mr. Biggleswade was resisting his daughter's attempts to drag him homewards. “A very lively old gentleman, I call him. He deserves to get his picture in the papers.”
Hobkirk eyed him doubtfully. “If you had to see as much of him as I do, sir—”
“Lord bless you, he wouldn't worry me! Have you had many of the villagers trying to do a bit of detection?”
“Sir,” said Hobkirk earnestly, “you wouldn't believe it! Something chronic, it is! I've had to choke off more silly fat-heads who saw people they don't like not more than half a mile from Fox House nowhere near the time Mr. Warrenby was shot—well, as I say, you wouldn't hardly credit!”
“That's where you're wrong, because I would,” said Hemingway. “Now then, grandfather! You go off home and have your tea, and don't worry me any more about it! I won't forget what you've told me! Come on, Melkinthorpe! Bellingham!”
At the police-station, he found the Chief Constable awaiting him, and chafing a little. He said cheerfully: “Sorry sir! Did you want to speak to me? I've been a bit held up by the local talent.” He saw that he had puzzled the Colonel, and added: “Amateur detectives, sir: the place is swarming with them.”