“John Exton, I do declare, and Aggie Farleigh! Well, well!”
“How are you, granfer?” asked Agatha.
Nicodemus squared his shoulders.
“I be the most notable man in village. How be Auntie, Aggie?”
“Very sick. I’ve not seen her yet.”
Nicodemus greeted Timothy, and then smacked his lips as he envisaged the small bottle of port wine.
“Ah-h-h! Her ladyship ha’ been herealong. Part wine, as I live!”
At once Timothy jumped up, fierce and menacing.
“Her wine? In my house? Gi’ me that bottle!”
“We may need it,” protested Agatha. Timothy pushed her roughly aside and seized the bottle, exclaiming with biblical fervour: