IV
　　They were in the Chief Constable¹'s office - three men with grave, worried faces.
　　Major Mitchell said with a sigh: "Well, I suppose there's nothing to be done but arrest him?"Leach² said quietly: "Looks like it, sir."Mitchell looked across at Superintendent³ Battle.
　　"Cheer up. Battle," he said kindly⁴. "Your best friend isn't dead."Superintendent Battle sighed.
　　"I don't like it," he said.
　　"I don't think any of us like it," said Mitchell. "But we've ample evidence, I think, to apply for a warrant.""More than ample," said Battle.
　　"In fact, if we don't apply for one, anybody might ask why the dickens not?"Battle nodded an unhappy head.
　　"Let's go over it," said the Chief Constable. "You've got motive⁵ - Strange and his wife come into a considerable sum of money at the old lady's death. He's the last person known to have seen her alive - he was heard quarrelling with her. The suit he wore that night had bloodstains on it; of course, most damning of all, his fingerprints⁶ were found on the actual weapon - and no one else's.""And yet, sir," said Battle, "you don't like it, either.""I'm damned if I do."
　　"What is it exactly you don't like about it, sir?"Major Mitchell rubbed his nose. "Makes the fellow out a bit too much of a fool, perhaps?" he suggested.
　　"And yet, sir, they do behave like fools sometimes." "Oh, I know -I know. Where would we be if they didn't?" Battle said to Leach: "What don't you like about it, Jim?" Leach stirred unhappily.
　　"I've always liked Mr. Strange. Seen him on and off down here for years. He's a nice gentleman - and he's a sportsman.""I don't see," said Battle slowly, "why a good tennis player shouldn't be a murderer as well. There's nothing against it." He paused. "What I don't like is the niblick.""The niblick?" asked Mitchell, slightly puzzled.

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