“I can’t imagine Pongo getting into mischief,” said Jimmy. “He’s done extremely well for himself so far⁠—dug himself in with old Coote and looks like being a permanency in the job.”

“Superintendent Battle,” said Bundle.

“Yes, Lady Eileen?”

“Don’t you think it very odd that Sir Oswald didn’t say what he was doing wandering about in the garden in the middle of the night?”

“Ah!” said Battle. “Sir Oswald’s a great man⁠—and a great man always knows better than to explain unless an explanation is demanded. To rush into explanations and excuses is always a sign of weakness. Sir Oswald knows that as well as I do. He’s not going to come in explaining and apologising⁠—not he. He just stalks in and hauls me over the coals. He’s a big man, Sir Oswald.”

Such a warm admiration sounded in the Superintendent’s tones that Bundle pursued the subject no further.