‘He’d be likely to come into a place like this.’

‘So are hundreds of others. I can’t keep track of all their names.’

‘Where is the best place to look for such a man?’

‘The Golden Crown is as good a place as any to start,’ said Howlett, ‘though there is a problem. If I haven’t heard of this actor, nobody else will have done so.’

‘We don’t know if he’s an actor.’

‘Then what do you know about the fellow?’

Ruddock shrugged. ‘Very little, I fear.’

‘Then you’ve been sent on a fool’s errand.’

‘No, Mr Howlett, that’s not true at all. Clearwater really does exist. I’ve spoken with two people who’ve met him and were able to tell me about his manner and appearance. I simply must find him.’

‘Then I wish I could help. What was the name again?’

‘Clearwater – Giles Clearwater.’

‘Let me concentrate for a moment.’ He downed the remains of his drink then handed the glass to Ruddock. ‘Tell the landlord it’s for me. He’ll know what to get.’

‘Oh, I see.’

‘Meanwhile, I’ll put my thinking cap on.’

Ruddock went off into the jostling crowd and eventually reached the bar counter. Since he was not a regular patron of the establishment, he found that he had to wait while those who were had the privilege of being served first. It was several minutes before he was able to fight his way back to the old actor.

‘There you are,’ he said, placing the glass in front of him.

‘Thank you, Mr Ruddock.’

‘Have you remembered anything?’

‘Yes and no,’ replied Howlett. ‘I vaguely remember the name but I cannot, for the life of me, connect it to a human being. The mind plays tricks on you at my age. Things get horribly jumbled. Leave me to mull it over, Mr Ruddock. If I give it time, this tired old brain of mine might start to work again. It might even tell me who Giles Clearwater is or was.’ He smiled apologetically. ‘That’s the best I can offer you, I fear.’ He raised the glass. ‘Good health to you, sir!’

While he was glad that he’d made the effort to go to Nottingham, Peter was relieved to be home again. Ackford and Huckvale were pleased to see him back at the shooting gallery and listened with interest to his account of his travels. Peter was not allowed to bask in their welcome for long. Two visitors arrived and the mood changed immediately. Yeomans and Hale were steaming with resentment when they came in.

‘What’s this about you going to Nottingham?’ demanded Yeomans.

‘It’s a free country, isn’t it?’ said Peter. ‘I can go wherever I wish.’

‘We have it on good authority that you went there to get information about Sir Roger Mellanby.’