I was just turning in at my own gate when I decided to pay a friend a visit.
Glancing at my watch, I saw that I had just time for it before taking Evensong. I went down the road to Haydock’s house. He came out on the doorstep to meet me.
I noticed afresh how worried and haggard he looked. This business seemed to have aged him out of all knowledge.
“I’m glad to see you,” he said. “What’s the news?”
I told him the latest Stone development.
“A high-class thief,” he commented. “Well, that explains a lot of things. He’d read up his subject, but he made slips from time to time to me. Protheroe must have caught him out once. You remember the row they had. What do you think about the girl? Is she in it too?”
“Opinion as to that is undecided,” I said. “For my own part, I think the girl is all right.”
“She’s such a prize idiot,” I added.
“Oh! I wouldn’t say that. She’s rather shrewd, is Miss Gladys Cram. A remarkably healthy specimen. Not likely to trouble members of my profession.”
I told him that I was worried about Hawes, and that I was anxious that he should get away for a real rest and change.
Something evasive came into his manner when I said this. His answer did not ring quite true.
“Yes,” he said slowly. “I suppose that would be the best thing. Poor chap. Poor chap.”