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'There was a farrier's apron in the Land…Rover。 Rolled up。 We didn't take that； did we？'
He frowned。 'I don't remember it； but no； it's not among the things we took。 What's significant about it？'
I said； 'I've always thought it odd that the colts should stand still long enough for the shears to close round the ankle； even with head…collars and those nuts。 But horses have an acute sense of smell 。。。 and all those colts had shoes on…I checked with their vets and they would have known the smell of a blacksmith's apron。 I think Ellis might have worn that apron to reassure the colts。 They may have thought he was the man who shod them。 They would have trusted him。 He could have lifted a fetlock and gripped it with the shears。'
He stared。
'What do you think？'I asked。
'It's you who knows horses。'
'It's how I might get a two…year…old to let me near his legs。'
'As far as I'm concerned；' he said； 'that's how it was done。'
He held out his hand automatically to say goodbye； then remembered Gordon Quint's handiwork； shrugged； grinned； and said instead； 'If there's anything interesting about that strip of rag； you'll let me know？'
'Of course。'
'See you。'
He drove off with a wave； trailing his boat； and I returned to my car； stowed away the bag and the envelope and made a short journey to Shelley Green； the home of Archie Kirk。
He had returned from work。 He took me into his sitting…room while his smiling wife cooked in the kitchen。
'How's things？' Archie asked。 'Whisky？'
I nodded。 'A lot of water 。。。'
He indicated chairs； and we sat。 The dark room looked right in October： imitation flames burnt imitation coals in the fireplace； giving the room a life that the sun of June hadn't achieved。
I hadn't seen Archie since then。 I absorbed again the probably deliberate greyness of his general appearance； and I saw again the whole internet in the dark eyes。
He said casually； 'You've been having a bit of a rough time。'
'Does it show？'
'Yes。'
'Never mind；' I said。 'Will you answer some questions？'
'It depends what they are。'
I drank some of his undistinguished whisky and let my muscles relax into the ultimate of non…aggressive； non…bative postures。
'For a start； what do you do？' I said。
'I'm a civil servant。'
'That's not。。。 well 。。。 specific。'
'Start at the other end；' he said。
I smiled。 I said； 'It's a wise man who knows who's paying him。'
He paused with his own glass halfway to his lips。
'Go on；' he said。
'Then 。。。 do you know Davis Tatum？'
After a pause he answered；'Yes。'
It seemed to me he was growing wary； that he； as I did； had to sort through a minefield of facts one could not or should not reveal that one knew。 The old dilemma does he know I know he knows sometimes seemed like child's play。
I said； 'How's Jonathan？'
He laughed。 'I hear you play chess；' he said。 'I hear you're a whiz at misdirection。 Your opponents think they're winning； and then 。。。 wham。'
I played chess only with Charles at Aynsford； and not very often。
'Do you know my father…in…law？' I asked。 'Ex…father…in…law； Charles Roland？'
With a glimmer he said； 'I've talked to him on the telephone。'
At least he hadn't lied to me； I thought； and； if he hadn't lied he'd given me a fairly firm path to follow。 I asked about Jonathan； and about his sister； Betty Bracken。
'That wretched boy is still at be Bassett and now that the water ski…ing season is over he is driving everyone mad。 You are the only person who sees any good in him。'
'Norman does。'
'Norman sees a talented water…skier with criminal tendencies。'
'Has Jonathan any money？'
Archie shook his head。 'Only the very little we give him for toothpaste and so on。 He's still on probation。 He's a mess。' He paused。 'Betty has been paying for the water ski…ing。 She's the only one in our family with real money。 She married straight out of school。 Bobby's thirty years older…he was rich when they married and he's richer than ever now。 As you saw； she's still devoted to him。 Always has been。 They had no children； she couldn't。 Very sad。 If Jonathan had any sense he would be nice to Betty。'
'I don't think he's that devious。 Or not yet； anyway。'
'Do you like him？' Archie asked curiously。
'Not much； but I hate to see people go to waste。'
'Stupid boy。'
'I checked on the colt；' I said。 'The foot stayed on。'
Archie nodded。 'Betty's delighted。 The colt is permanently lame； but they're going to see if； with his breeding； he's any good for stud。 Betty's offering him free next year to good mares。'
Archie's sweet wife came in and asked if I would stay to dinner； she could easily cook extra。 I thanked her but stood up to go。 Archie shook my hand。 I winced through not concentrating； but he made no ment。 He came out to my car with me as the last shreds of daylight waned to dark。
He said； 'In the Civil Service； I work in a small unacknowledged off…shoot department which was set up sometime ago to foretell the probable oute of any high political appointment。 We also predict the future inevitable consequences of pieces of Proposed legislation。' He paused and went on wryly； 'We call ourselves the Cassandra outfit。 We see what will happen and no one believes us。 We are always on the look out for exceptional independent investigators with no allegiances。 They're hard to find。 We think you are one。'
I stood beside my car in the dying light looking into the extraordinary eyes。 An extraordinary man of unimaginable insights。 I said； 'Archie； I'll work for you to the limit as long as I'm sure you're not sending me into a danger that you know exists but are not telling me about。'
He took a deep breath but gave no undertaking。
'Goodnight；' I said mildly。
'Sid。'
'I'll phone you。' It was as firm a promise； I thought； as 'let's do lunch'。
He was still standing on his gravel as I drove out through his gates。 A true civil servant； I thought ruefully。 No positive assurances could ever be given because the rules could at any time be changed under one's feet。
I drove north across Oxfordshire to Aynsford and rang the bell of the side entrance of Charles's house。 Mrs Cross came in answer to the summons； her enquiring expression melting to wele as she saw who had arrived。
'The Admiral's in the wardroom；' she assured me； when I asked if he were at home； and she bustled along before me to give Charles the news。
He made no reference to the fact that it was the second time in three days that I had sought his sanctuary。 He merely pointed to the gold brocade chair and poured brandy into a tumbler without asking。
I sat and drank and looked gratefully at the austerity and restraint of this thin man who'd manded ships and was now my only anchor。
'How's the arm？' he asked briefly； and I said lightly； 'Sore。'
He nodded and waited。
'Can I stay？' I said。
'Of course。'
After a longish pause； I said； 'Do you know a man called Archibald Kirk？'
'No； I don't think so。'
'He says he talked to you on the telephone。 It was months ago； I think。 He's a civil servant and a magistrate。 He lives near Hungerford； and I've e here from his ho