The sergeant listened to this tale in sceptical silence. At the end he said: "That's how it happened, is it? And what might you have been doing on the Collinghurst Road at that hour of night?"
The answer astonished him. "I was following the young gentleman," said Collins.
The sergeant, who had been sure of it, was nonplussed. "Oh you were, were you?" he said rather feebly. "And why?"
Collins glanced fleetingly at Amberley. "I have been endeavouring to get into touch with the young gentleman since a very unpleasant little affair took place at the manor three evenings ago. I think Mr. Amberley will know to what I refer."
"Never you mind what Mr. Amberley knows," said the sergeant. "What was this unpleasant affair?"
Collins moistened his lips. "Well, Sergeant, Mr. Brown being under the influence of spirits, came up to the manor and upon my opening the door to him, addressed me in a threatening way which I could not at all account for. He seemed to mistake me for someone else."
"He did, eh? And what made you think that?"
"I could not suppose, Sergeant, that the young gentleman had really any grudge against me."
"You didn't know him at all, did you?"
A slight crease appeared between Amberley's brows.