Alleyn wandered into the ingle-nook, knocked out his pipe on the hearthstone and then stooped down.

‘Look here, Fox.’

‘What’s that, sir?’

‘Look at this log-box.’

Fox bent himself at the waist and stared into a heavy wooden box in which Abel kept his pieces of driftwood and the newspaper used for kindling. Alleyn pulled out a piece of paper and took it to the light.

‘It’s been wet,’ observed Fox.

‘Very wet. Soaked. It was thrust down among the bits of wood. A little pool has lain in the pocket. Smell it.’

Fox sniffed vigorously. ‘Brandy?’ he asked.

‘Don’t know. Handle it carefully, Br’er Fox. Put it away in your room and then get Pomeroy junior.’

Alleyn returned to the parlour, turned on the red-shaded lamp and settled himself behind the table.

Fox came in followed by Will Pomeroy. Will carried two pint pots of beer. He set them down on the table.

‘Thank you,’ said Alleyn. ‘Can you spare us a moment?’

‘Yes.’

‘Sit down, won’t you?’

Will hesitated awkwardly, and then chose the least comfortable chair and sat on the extreme edge. Fox took out his notebook and Will’s eyes flickered. Alleyn laid three keys on the table.

‘We may return these now, I think,’ he said. ‘I’m sure you’ll be glad to see the Plume of Feathers set right again.’

‘Thanks,’ said Will. He stretched out his hand and took the keys.

‘The point we’d like to talk about,’ said Alleyn, ‘is the possibility of the dart that injured Mr Watchman being tainted with the stuff used for rat poison—the acid kept in the corner cupboard of the private tap. Now, your father—’

‘I know what my father’s been telling you,’ interrupted Will, ‘and I don’t hold with it. My father’s got a damn’ crazy notion in his head.’

‘What notion is that?’ asked Alleyn.

Will looked sharply at him, using that trick of lowering his eyelashes. He did not answer.

‘Do you mean that your father’s ideas about Mr Robert Legge are crazy.’

‘That’s right. Father’s got his knife into Bob Legge because of his views. There’s no justice nor sense in what he says. I’ll swear, Bible oath, Bob Legge never interfered with the dart. I’ll swear it before any judge or jury in the country.’

‘How can you be so positive?’

‘I was watching the man. I was in the corner between the dartboard and the bar. I was watching him.’

‘All the time? From the moment the darts were unpacked until he threw them?’

‘Yes,’ said Will doggedly. ‘All the time.’

‘Why?’

‘Eh?’

‘Why did you watch him so closely?’

‘Because of what the man was going to do. We all watched him.’