Alleyn and Fox accompanied the sergeant in his car while Bailey, Thompson and the Yard driver followed their lead. On the way Sergeant Oliphant gave a businesslike report. Sir George Lacklander had rung up Sir James Punston, the Chief Constable, who in turn had rung Oliphant at about nine o’clock. Oliphant and his constable had then gone to Bottom Meadow and had found Dr Mark Lacklander, Nurse Kettle and the body of Colonel Cartarette. They had taken a brief statement from Nurse Kettle and asked her to remain handy. Dr Lacklander who, in Oliphant’s presence, made a very brief examination of the body, had then gone to break the news to the relatives of the deceased, taking Nurse Kettle with him. The sergeant had returned to Chyning and reported to the Chief Constable who decided to call in the Yard. The constable had remained on guard by the body with Colonel Cartarette’s spaniel, the latter having strenuously resisted all attempts to remove him.

‘Did you form any opinion at all, Oliphant?’ Alleyn asked. This is the most tactful remark a CID man can make to a county officer and Oliphant coruscated under its influence.

‘Not to say opinion, sir,’ he said. ‘Not to say that. One thing I did make sure of was not to disturb anything. He’s lying on a patch of shingle screened in by a half-circle of willows and cut off on the open side by the stream. He’s lying on his right side, kind of curled up as if he’d been bowled over from a kneeling position, like. His hat was over his face. Nurse Kettle moved it when she found him and Dr Lacklander moved it again when he examined the wound which is in the left temple. A dirty great puncture,’ the sergeant continued, easing off his official manner a point or two, ‘with what the doctor calls extensive fractures all round it. Quite turned my chap’s stomach, drunks-in-charge and disorderly behaviour being the full extent of his experience.’

Alleyn and Fox having chuckled in the right place, the sergeant continued: ‘No sign of the weapon so far as we could make out, flashing our torches round. I was particular not to go hoofing over the ground.’

‘Admirable,’ said Alleyn.

‘Well,’ said Sergeant Oliphant, ‘it’s what we’re told, sir, isn’t it?’

‘Notice anything at all out of the way?’ Alleyn asked. The question was inspired more by kindliness than curiosity and the sergeant’s reaction surprised him. Oliphant brought his two freckled hams of hands down on the driving-wheel and made a complicated snorting noise. ‘Out of the way!’ he shouted. ‘Ah, my God, I’ll say we did. Out of the way! Tell me, now, sir, are you a fly-fisherman?’

‘Only fair to middling to worse. I do when I get the chance. Why?’