Alleyn and Fox managed to head him off a further search. He sat down, and listened with an air of helplessness to Alleyn’s parting exposition.

‘Now, Mr Ancred,’ Alleyn said, ‘I think I ought to make as clear as possible the usual procedure following the sort of information you have brought to us. Before any definite step can be taken, the police make what are known as “further inquiries.” They do this as inconspicuously as possible, since neither their original informant, nor they, enjoy the public exploration of a mare’s nest. If these inquiries seem to point to a suspicion of ill practice, the police then get permission from the Home Secretary for the next step to be taken. You know what that is, I expect?’

‘I say,’ said Thomas, ‘that would be beastly, wouldn’t it?’ A sudden thought seemed to strike him. ‘I say,’ he repeated, ‘would I have to be there?’

‘We’d probably ask for formal identification by a member of his family.’

‘Oh, Lor’!’ Thomas whispered dismally. He pinched his lower lip between his thumb and forefinger. A gleam of consolation appeared to visit him.

‘I say,’ he said, ‘it’s a good job after all, isn’t it, that the Nation didn’t plump for the Abbey?’

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Alleyn at Ancreton

‘IN OUR GAME,’ said Fox as they drove back to the Yard, ‘you get some funny glimpses into what you might call human nature. I dare say I’ve said that before, but it’s a fact.’

‘I believe you,’ said Alleyn.

‘Look at this chap we’ve just left,’ Fox continued with an air of controversy. ‘Vague! And yet he must be good at his job, wouldn’t you say, sir?’

‘Indisputably.’

‘There! Good at his job, and yet to meet him you’d say he’d lose his play, and his actors, and his way to the theatre. In view of which,’ Fox summed up, ‘I ask myself if this chap’s as muddle-headed as he lets on.’

‘A pose, you think, do you, Fox?’

‘You never know with some jokers,’ Fox muttered, and, wiping his great hand over his face, seemed by that gesture to dispose of Thomas Ancred’s vagaries. ‘I suppose,’ he said, ‘it’ll be a matter of seeing the doctor, won’t it?’

‘I’m afraid so. I’ve looked out trains. There’s one in an hour. Get us there by midday. We may have to spend the night in Ancreton village. We can pick up our emergency bags at the Yard. I’ll talk to the AC and telephone Troy. What a hell of a thing to turn up.’

‘It doesn’t look as if we’ll be able to let it alone, do you reckon, Mr Alleyn?’