But she said nothing and when Matthews turned from the telephone
to go back to the tap-room she had resumed her former listless
attitude.
Matthews and Gordon made a thorough search of the kitchen and
back premises without finding anything of note. They had just
finished when the sound of a car outside attracted their
attention. On the road beyond the little bridge outside the inn
Francis and Desmond Okewood were standing, helping a woman to
alight. Francis was still wearing his scarecrow-like apparel,
while Desmond, with his beard and pale face and bandaged head,
looked singularly unlike the trim Brigade Major who had come home
on leave only a week or so before.
Matthews went out to meet them and, addressing the woman--a
brisk-looking person-as Mrs. Butterworth, informed her that it
was shocking weather. Then he led the way into the inn.
The first thing that Desmond saw was the little toque with the
brown stain on its flowered band lying on the table. Francis
picked it up, turned it over and land it down again.
Where did you find it?" he asked Matthews. The latter informed
him of the circumstances of the discovery. Then Francis, sending
the searcher in to Nur-el-Din in the bar, pointed to the body on
the floor.
"Let's have a look at that!" he said.
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