“Was that a nickname, Cecil?”
Cecil looked up, and the Inspector could see that he was more than a little moved.
“We used to call him that when we were kids.”
Sir Clinton’s next question left the Inspector still further bemused.
“Out of ‘The Jungle Book’ by any chance?”
Cecil seemed to see the drift of the inquiry, for he replied at once:
“Yes. Rikki-tikki-tavi, you know.”
“I was almost certain of it,” said Sir Clinton. “I can put a name to the trouble, I think. It begins with A.”
Cecil reflected for a moment before replying.
“Yes. You’re right. It does begin with A.”