“We were talking about Theo, and Virgil wanted to know if Theo had ever confessed to me that he’d nearly done something unforgiveable. Mrs. Winslow was very upset. I told him that he was mistaken, that Theo had had nothing to confess. And Virgil answered that he was only curious, having just told of his own secret guilt. You see, Virgil sometimes likes to shock. It’s his way of making people notice him, to say horrible things. And then they pity him, and he manages to escape being brought to book for being abrasively outspoken. I know there were times when I myself was unwilling to add to his burdens, and let small transgressions go. And of course as a result, he’s never been held to ordinary standards. I feel responsible for the way he uses his wife. She doesn’t deserve it.”

“Did Hartle ever confess to you? Do you know what it was that he’d nearly done?” Rutledge asked.

“That was what I remembered just as I was leaving. It was as if a light had gone on in my head, illuminating the incident. It was before Hartle went to France with the Eastfield Company. He came to see me because he had something on his mind. He said that he didn’t want to die unshriven.”

“What did he confess? Can you tell us?”

“I thought about that all the way back to the rectory. It was a confession, though not in the strictest sense. And I’m not sure I was told the whole story. But my own conscience was clear on that issue by the time I saw your motorcar coming toward me tonight.” He looked up at the clock on the shelf above the hearth. “Well, it’s nearly tomorrow isn’t it? I hadn’t realized it was so late.”

Rutledge said, “Are you certain you are comfortable telling us what Hartle said?” For it appeared that Mr. Ottley was postponing the moment of revelation as long as he could, almost as if he regretted making any mention of it to them at all.

“As certain as I can be. But you must promise me that this will not be made public. That if it helps you in any way, you won’t use what I told you in a courtroom. I won’t have Peggy Winslow suffer on my account. And I have a feeling that’s why Virgil brought it up. I think he was tired of seeing her mourn. He wanted her full attention, and if he had to ruin Theo’s memory to do it, he was willing.”

Rutledge said nothing, waiting.

Constable Walker said, “For my part, I give you my word. Peggy won’t learn of it through me.”

The rector put his own teacup down and walked to the windows. The wind had picked up as the clouds moved nearer, and the first rumble of thunder rolled through the darkness.