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little. He was warned, of course, about making a statement. But he merely laughed. Said he came here to see you—found Protheroe here. They had words and he shot him. Won’t say what the quarrel was about. Look here, Clement—just between you and me, do you know anything about it? I’ve heard rumours—about his being forbidden the house and all that. What was it—did he seduce the daughter, or what? We don’t want to bring the girl into it more than we can help for everybody’s sake. Was that the trouble?”
    â€œNo,” I said. “You can take it from me that it was something quite different, but I can’t say more at the present juncture.”
    He nodded and rose.
    â€œI’m glad to know. There’s a lot of talk. Too many women in this part of the world. Well, I must get along. I’ve got to see Haydock. He was called out to some case or other, but he ought to be back by now. I don’t mind telling you I’m sorry about Redding. He always struck me as a decent young chap. Perhaps they’ll think out some kind of defence for him. Aftereffects of war, shell shock, or something. Especially if no very adequate motive turns up. I must be off. Like to come along?”
    I said I would like to very much, and we went out together.
    Haydock’s house is next door to mine. His servant said the doctor had just come in and showed us into the dining room, where Haydock was sitting down to a steaming plate of eggs and bacon. He greeted me with an amiable nod.
    â€œSorry I had to go out. Confinement case. I’ve been up most of the night, over your business. I’ve got the bullet for you.”
    He shoved a little box along the table. Melchett examined it.
    â€œPoint two five?”
    Haydock nodded.
    â€œI’ll keep the technical details for the inquest,” he said. “All you want to know is that death was practically instantaneous. Silly young fool, what did he want to do it for? Amazing, by the way, that nobody heard the shot.”
    â€œYes,” said Melchett, “that surprises me.”
    â€œThe kitchen window gives on the other side of the house,” I said. “With the study door, the pantry door, and the kitchen door all shut, I doubt if you would hear anything, and there was no one but the maid in the house.”
    â€œH’m,” said Melchett. “It’s odd, all the same. I wonder the old lady—what’s her name—Marple, didn’t hear it. The study window was open.”
    â€œPerhaps she did,” said Haydock.
    â€œI don’t think she did,” said I. “She was over at the Vicarage just now and she didn’t mention anything of the kind which I’m certain she would have done if there had been anything to tell.”
    â€œMay have heard it and paid no attention to it—thought it was a car backfiring.”
    It struck me that Haydock was looking much more jovial and good-humoured this morning. He seemed like a man who was decorously trying to subdue unusually good spirits.
    â€œOr what about a silencer?” he added. “That’s quite likely. Nobody would hear anything then.”
    Melchett shook his head.
    â€œSlack didn’t find anything of the kind, and he asked Redding, and Redding didn’t seem to know what he was talking about at firstand then denied point blank using anything of the kind. And I suppose one can take his word for it.”
    â€œYes, indeed, poor devil.”
    â€œDamned young fool,” said Colonel Melchett. “Sorry, Clement. But he really is! Somehow one can’t get used to thinking of him as a murderer.”
    â€œAny motive?” asked Haydock, taking a final draught of coffee and pushing back his chair.
    â€œHe says they quarrelled and he lost his temper and shot him.”
    â€œHoping for manslaughter, eh?” The doctor shook his head. “That story doesn’t hold water. He stole up behind him as he was