“No, I haven't got any reason, but if I've hit the right one, first crack out of the bag, it'll be a miracle, and I don't believe in them. Step on it a bit, son: no one will have you up!”
“You have now seen a few of the people you have to deal with,” said Harbottle, with gloomy satisfaction. “Are you still liking the case, Chief?”
“Of course I am! Why shouldn't I, when I've got half a dozen people doing my job for me?”
This drew a smile from Harbottle, but slightly puzzled the Sergeant, who did not recall having seen quite so many persons in the Chief Inspector's train. “Half a dozen, sir?” he repeated.
“Well, that's what's called a conservative estimate,” said Hemingway. “From what I've seen, I shouldn't think there's a house or a cottage in Thornden where they aren't chewing over the crime at this very moment. If your Mr. Drybeck hasn't solved the whole mystery by tomorrow, very likely that nice young couple will have done it, and then we can go back to London, and take all the credit.”
Chapter Eight
Whatever may have been the topics under discussion in other houses, nothing but the murder of Sampson Warrenby was considered worthy to be talked about at The Cedars, where the son of the house and Miss Dearham were regaling Mrs. Haswell, over cocktails, with a description of the encounter at the Red Lion. Mrs. Haswell, beyond entertaining a vague hope that no one she knew would prove to be the guilty person, took really very little interest in the affair. She inclined to the belief that the murder had probably been committed by a Bellingham-man, and was a good deal more exercised in her mind over the disquieting symptoms suddenly evinced by one of her rarer plants. However, she and Miss Patterdale were agreed that although it was disagreeable to persons of their generation to have a murder committed in their midst, it was very nice for the children to have something to occupy them, Thornden being such a quiet place, with really nothing to do in it at this season except to play tennis. Miss Patterdale went so far as to say that if it had had to happen she was glad it had happened during Abby's visit, because she was always so afraid Abby would grow bored when she stayed with her. Mrs. Haswell said, Yes, she felt the same about Charles; but privately she thought a murder had not been necessary to keep either Charles or Abby from a state of boredom.
“I rather liked the Chief Inspector, didn't you?” Abby said. “The other one had a quelling sort of face, though. Much more like what one imagines. I do wonder what they're doing!”
“I thought the Chief was leading us all on to talk. I was afraid you were going to come out with your theory.”
“Like Gavin. You are a beast, Charles! As though I would! All the same, I bet I'm right.”