Five
I t was nearer seven than half past six when I approached the Vicarage gate on my return. Before I reached it, it swungopen and Lawrence Redding came out. He stopped dead on seeing me, and I was immediately struck by hisappearance. He looked like a man who was on the point of going mad. His eyes stared in a peculiar¹ manner, he wasdeathly white, and he was shaking and twitching² all over.
I wondered for a moment whether he could have been drinking, but repudiated³ the idea immediately.
“Hallo,” I said, “have you been to see me again? Sorry I was out. Come back now. I’ve got to see Protheroe aboutsome accounts—but I dare say we shan’t be long.”
“Protheroe,” he said. He began to laugh. “Protheroe? You’re going to see Protheroe? Oh, you’ll see Protheroe allright! Oh, my God—yes!”
I stared. Instinctively⁴ I stretched out a hand towards him. He drew sharply aside.
“No,” he almost cried out. “I’ve got to get away—to think. I’ve got to think. I must think.”
He broke into a run and vanished rapidly down the road towards the village, leaving me staring after him, my firstidea of drunkenness recurring⁵.
Finally I shook my head, and went on to the Vicarage. The front door is always left open, but nevertheless I rangthe bell. Mary came, wiping her hands on her apron⁶.
“So you’re back at last,” she observed.
“Is Colonel Protheroe here?” I asked.
“In the study. Been here since a quarter past six.”
“And Mr. Redding’s been here?”
“Come a few minutes ago. Asked for you. I told him you’d be back at any minute and that Colonel Protheroe waswaiting in the study, and he said he’d wait too, and went there. He’s there now.”
“No, he isn’t,” I said. “I’ve just met him going down the road.”
“Well, I didn’t hear him leave. He can’t have stayed more than a couple of minutes. The mistress isn’t back fromtown yet.”

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