Chapter 17

"I went," he said, with great deliberation, "because you reported a suspicious circumstance. You told me you had reason to believe that the murderer might be hiding in that loft." The constable gasped at this atrocious charge, gasped but was speechless. "So that, if there's any trouble over it," said Surefoot, "we're both in it. And my word's better than yours. Now go home and keep your mouth shut--it won't be hard for you." He could not resist the temptation to gibe. "In fact, I should say you were a pretty good m…