II

An unemotional voice said, “Crowdean Police Station.”

“Can I speak to Detective Inspector Hardcastle?”

The voice said cautiously:

“I don’t know whether he is here. Who is speaking?”

“Tell him it’s Colin Lamb.”

“Just a moment, please.”

I waited. Then Dick Hardcastle’s voice spoke.

“Colin? I didn’t expect you yet awhile. Where are you?”

“Crowdean. I’m actually in Wilbraham Crescent. There’s a man lyingdead on the floor of Number 19, stabbed I should think. He’s been deadapproximately half an hour or so.”

“Who found him. You?”

“No, I was an innocent passerby. Suddenly a girl came flying out of thehouse like a bat out of hell. Nearly knocked me down. She said there was adead man on the floor and a blind woman was trampling on him.”

“You’re not having me on, are you?” Dick’s voice asked suspiciously.

“It does sound fantastic, I admit. But the facts seem to be as stated. Theblind woman is Miss Millicent Pebmarsh who owns the house.”

“And was she trampling on the dead man?”

“Not in the sense you mean it. It seems that being blind she just didn’tknow he was there.”

“I’ll set the machinery in motion. Wait for me there. What have youdone with the girl?”

“Miss Pebmarsh is making her a cup of tea.”

Dick’s comment was that it all sounded very cosy.