‘We’re locked in here. Prisoners, I tell you. We –’ he broke off suddenly and they heard him catch his breath.
‘Dawlish!’ he said. ‘The brute’s down there talking to him quietly as if nothing were up.’
‘We’re imprisoned up here, I tell you,’ he shouted again. ‘That man is a lunatic – a criminal. For heaven’s sake don’t take any notice of him.’
He paused breathless, and they heard the heavy German voice raised a little as though with suppressed anger.
‘I tell you I am a doctor. These unfortunate people are under my care. They are poor imbeciles. You are exciting them. You will oblige me by going away immediately. I cannot have you over my grounds.’
And then a young voice with an almost unbelievable county accent spoke stiffly:
‘I am sorry. I will go away immediately, of course. I had no idea you – er – kept lunatics. But they gave the “view-halloo” and naturally I thought they’d seen.’
Martin groaned.
‘The rest of the field’s coming up. The pack will be past in a moment.’
Mr Campion’s slightly falsetto voice interrupted him. He was very excited. ‘I know that voice,’ he said wildly. ‘That’s old “Guffy” Randall. Half a moment.’