Miss Maynard’s statement made such an impression on Sergeant¹ Westaway that he determined² to ride over to Staveley that afternoon and lay it before Inspector³ Murchison. He was so restless and excited at the new phase of the Cliff Farm murder which had been opened up by the young lady’s revelations that he decided⁴ the matter was too important to be allowed to remain where it was until Detective Gillett returned to Ashlingsea on the following day.

 

Besides, twenty-five years’ rustication⁵ in Ashlingsea had made him so much of an idealist that he actually believed that any zealous⁶ activity he displayed in the only great crime which had ever happened during his long régime at Ashlingsea would be placed to his credit in the official quarters.

 

After a midday dinner Sergeant Westaway wheeled forth⁷ his bicycle and, having handed over to Constable⁸ Heather the official responsibility of maintaining order in Ashlingsea, pedalled away along the cliff road to Staveley. The road was level for the greater part of the way and he reached Staveley in a little more than an hour of the time of his departure from Ashlingsea.

 

Several persons—mostly women—were in the front office of the police station, waiting their turn to lay their troubles before the recognized guide and confidant of Staveley, but the constable in charge, who knew Sergeant Westaway, deferred⁹ to his official position by taking him straight into the presence of Inspector Murchison and closing the door behind him.

 

The inspector was seated in his office chair talking earnestly to a shabby young woman who carried a baby, and was crying bitterly. He looked up as Westaway entered, and then he rose from his chair, as an intimation to the young woman in front of him that he had given her as much of the Government’s time as she had a right to expect. The young woman took the hint, rose to her feet and turned to go. On her way to the door she turned round and said in a pleading voice:

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