‘That is so,’ agreed the Inspector. ‘The driver, curiously enough, seemed to get off very lightly, I thought. Deep cut acrost his face, but otherwise nothing much wrong with ’im. The Chief’s been interviewing ’im all the morning. Jesse Gideon, the second prisoner, is still unconscious. ’E ’as several nasty fractures, I understand, but Dawlish got all one side of the car on top of ’im and the doctor seems to think that if he keeps ’im alive ’is brain may go. There’s not much sense in that, I told ’im. Simply giving everybody trouble, I said. Still, we ’ave to be ’umane, you know. How about Mr Prenderby, sir? Shall I take ’is statement later?’
Prenderby spoke weakly from the bed.
‘I should like to corroborate all Dr Abbershaw has told you,’ he said. ‘Do you think you could make that do, Inspector?’
‘It’s not strictly in accordance with the regulations,’ murmured Pillow, ‘but I think under the circumstances we might stretch a point. I’ll ’ave your name and address and I won’t bother you two gentlemen no more.’
After Prenderby’s name, age, address, and telephone number had been duly noted down in the Inspector’s notebook, Abbershaw spoke.
‘I suppose we may set off for Town when we like, then?’ he said.
‘Just whenever you like, sir.’
The Inspector shut his notebook with a click, and picking up his hat from beneath his chair, moved to the door.
‘I’ll wish you good day, then, gentlemen,’ he said, and stalked out.
Prenderby looked at Abbershaw.