How can I be right? And if I am right can I prove it? Then he remembered Nicholas, and he thought: If I cannot trust my own logic and my own intelligence, I will never enjoy birdwatching again. If I cannot trust my instinct in this, how will I know, when I see a glaucous gull or a marsh warbler, that it is what I believe it to be? This thing is just as simple. Either Nicholas Mardle killed two people or he did not. Either a bird is a glaucous gull or a herring gull. If ever a time comes when I cannot definitely identify a bird, then I will give it all up. And I know that Nicholas did not kill anyone.

He did not know why he was so daunted at the prospect of an interview with Savage. He was, by this time, quite sure who had killed Charlie Todd and Pamela Marshall. Did he expect Savage to shake his confidence? Rather he was afraid of losing his confidence in the policeman. If the superintendent showed himself to be a complete fool, things would be very awkward.

He drove into the town and parked by the police station. Just outside the building he met Connibear. The detective did not attempt to avoid him.

“I’m sorry that it’s taken so long to get the information you wanted,” he said. “ I was going to get in touch today. I’ve checked with the Inland Revenue and VAT. They’ve never had any suspicions about Todd Leisure. Ernie employs a clever accountant but it’s all quite legal.”

“Thank you very much. Sorry to have put you to so much trouble. I seem to have been wrong about that. I managed to see Albert Todd and he was able to clear it up for me.”

“No trouble, sir.”

“Do you think that Superintendent Savage would be able to see me today?”

Connibear looked fixedly at George, as if he wanted to add extra significance to his words.

“I think he would, sir. I think he might be having … second thoughts. Not about being able to get a conviction. No trouble about that. But in his own mind. And then Martindale’s resignation shook him.”

“Martindale was the young uniformed officer who was there when Pamela Marshall was killed?”

“That’s right, sir. But it wasn’t his fault. He shouldn’t take responsibility for it. He coped well enough. As well as any of us would have done. Mr. Savage was a bit hard on him at the time. He said that Martindale was soft because he believed young Mardle’s story, and now I think the superintendent’s feeling a bit bad about it. He doesn’t say anything, of course, but I think that’s how things are. I don’t think Martindale will change his mind however things turn out. He says he wants to train to be a teacher. Good luck to him. The pay’s awful, but the hours are better. You’ve got to be cut out for this job. Look, I’ve got to go. But you ask to see the superintendent. I’m sure he’ll help you.”