“I rang up Ashlingsea police station half an hour ago and asked them to make some inquiries about Harry,” said Sir George. “He doesn’t seem to be much the worse for his night’s experience. At all events, the landlady sent word back that he had gone out for a swim.”
“I am very glad to hear that he is all right,” said Crewe.
“They have given him our message,” continued Sir George, “so he will be waiting for us.”
“It ought not to take us much more than half an hour to run over. Is the road good?”
“Fairly good. We will get away as soon as we have finished breakfast. I told my wife not to expect us back until after lunch. That will give you time to look over the farm-house where the man was murdered.”
Crewe smiled slightly at his host’s idea that it would not take him long to reconstruct the crime.
“Are we to keep the object of our journey a secret from Lady Granville when we return?” he asked.
“Well, no. The fact of the matter is that I told her all about it this morning. It was best to do so. She will be of valuable assistance in looking after Harry if he has been upset by his experiences of last night.”
They finished breakfast quickly, and Sir George got up from his chair.
“I told Harris to have the car ready,” he said. “It will be waiting for us.”