‘I felt that Worry had either been injured or decoyed. I realized that the woman wanted to keep me at her bungalow. There seemed no reason why she should. I guessed she had seen me with Will. I met him out on the hill. I knew she must have heard the shot which was meant for Ed Brown. She did not mention it. The shots from that gun which was tied to the gate at the top of Groaning Spinney were meant either for Ed or for Will. It seems likely, from what was attempted today, that Ed was the intended victim, but, now I know that his dog was stolen, I believe that Will may equally be among the hunted. Worry hates that gate. In other words, the dog did not see a ghost that day: he smelt somebody who didn’t or doesn’t like him.’

Jonathan began to laugh.

‘If you don’t know what made you suspect that she had the dog, why don’t you say so straight out?’ he demanded. ‘Now, look – and don’t hedge over this! – what about this shooting business today? Whatever the truth about the shotgun that was tied to the gate, was today’s bullet really meant for Ed?’

‘Well, Ed seemed to think it was. If so, it’s a good thing he is second cousin to the birds! He thinks they saved his life for him today. By the way, one of Will’s guns is missing. It will be discovered that the shot was fired from it, I think. Worry might have been decoyed so that the gun could be stolen.’

‘But Worry might not have been at the cottage. Will usually takes him out with him.’

‘Yes, that is true. You know, there is one small point that rather bothers me in this case. We heard that Ed Brown did not like what he saw of Tiny Fullalove in India. He did not like his treatment of Army mules. Yet when I first saw Tiny he had the company of those two affectionate cats and of those two obviously adoring dogs. I wonder what Worry thinks of him? And we still haven’t traced those animals, by the way.’

‘Oh, well, a man may be fond enough of his own animals and not kind to other people’s, don’t you think?’ said Jonathan, playing to the opening gambit as usual.

‘It could be so, but I should think it is unusual. A dog-lover usually gets on with all dogs. A cat-addict likes everybody’s cats.’