"Well."

"Sorry, Tony; I'm dense this morning."

"In the car, Bill. And how near can the car get to Jallands?"

"About six hundred yards."

"Yes. And on his way to Middleston, on some business or other,
Mark stops the car, walks six hundred yards down the hill to
Jallands, says, 'Oh, by the way, Mrs. Norbury, I don't think I
ever told you that I have a shady brother called Robert,' walks
six hundred yards up the hill again, gets into the car, and goes
off to Middleston. Is that likely?"

Bill frowned heavily.

"Yes, but I don't see what you're getting at. Likely or not
likely, we know he did do it."

"Of course he did. All I mean is that he must have had some
strong reason for telling Mrs. Norbury at once. And the reason I
suggest is that he knew on that morning--Monday morning, not
Tuesday--that Robert was coming to see him, and had to be in
first with the news.

"But--but--"

"And that would explain the other point--his instantaneous