‘Be that as it may,’ said Mrs Bradley, ‘I still say that there is the question of Tiny Fullalove’s bad temper. If he didn’t clout the boys last Christmas, why tackle them this Christmas? No, it is as I have said. He had to be shown to be a brute so that Emming could quarrel with him openly. It was a bad mistake, but it was the way they had worked things out. There was another reason, too. He had given permission – you heard what that young boy said – for the choir to pick holly in the Spinney. He did not go back on his word. That might have looked suspicious. Murderers are for ever allowing for the slip which doesn’t occur! No, he lay in wait for the lads and chased them away from the body. I should certainly think that’s what happened. I wonder what time it was when the boys met him?’

‘Before dark, anyway. They wouldn’t gather holly after dark if they thought it was all right to get it. But if they did think it was all right, I can’t see why the youngster stalled so badly about the place they were in when Fullalove caught them.’

‘Oh, just that he connects the Spinney now with the punishment, and has an after-effect of guilt connected with it. He’s probably often been in mischief and gets into trouble with his aunt.’

‘Yes, I see. So Tiny Fullalove and young Emming are our men. I can’t understand about Emming.’

‘Bad heredity, probably from both parents. There was no real need for him to have continued to send out those abominable letters, yet he did so.’

‘But he seemed such a harmless young fellow.’

‘Nobody is harmless who nourishes a twenty-eight-year-old grudge against society.’

‘His illegitimacy, you mean.’

‘I think so.’

‘But what can I do? We’ve still no proof.’

‘You can have him charged for sending the letters.’

‘Yes, I could do that, if you’re certain. But what about the typewriter? We can’t do anything until that’s traced to him, you know.’

‘You should go and look in Mr Mansell’s dig.’

‘Eh?’

‘That’s where I think you will find it.’

‘Yes, but … Of course, he did help Mansell up there. He was there with Ed Brown. I suppose …’

‘You suppose correctly. It was he who dug the longest and deepest trench. I noticed that particularly. The far end will now be filled in and the turf replaced. The typewriter will be underneath that turf.’

‘Let’s find the typewriter, then.’

‘And in Emming’s presence. Right.’