e might have slept on late. But why had Lady Loudwater
lied about the snoring? What did she know? What on earth was she
hiding? Whom was she screening? Could it be Colonel Grey? Was he mixed
up in the actual murder? Mr. Flexen decided that he must have more
information about Colonel Grey, that he would get into touch with him,
and that soon.

He had information about him sooner than he expected and without seeking
it. Inspector Perkins was awaiting him, with Mrs. Turnbull, the landlady
of the "Cart and Horses." The inspector had learned from her that the
Lord Loudwater had paid a visit to her lodger the evening before, and
that they had quarrelled fiercely. Mr. Flexen heard her story and
questioned her. The important point in it seemed to him to be Lord
Loudwater's threats to hound Colonel Grey out of the Army.

Mrs. Turnbull left him plenty to ponder. Mr. Manley had told him that the
handle of the famous knife would probably provide him with an
embarrassment of riches in the way of finger-prints. It seemed to him
that the stories of William Roper, Mrs. Carruthers, and Mrs. Turnbull had
provided him with an embarrassment of riches in the way of possible
murderers. It grew clearer than ever to him that the inquest must be
conducted with the greatest discretion, that as few facts as possible
must be revealed at it. It was also clear to him that, unless the handle
of the knife told a plain story, he would get nothing but circumstantial
evidence, and so far he had gotten too much of it.

He made up his mind that it would be best to see Colonel Grey at once and
form his impression as to the likelihood of his having had a hand in the
crime. He was loth to believe that a V.C. would murder in cold blood
even as detestable a bully as the Lord Loudwater appeared to have been.
But he had seen stranger things. Moreover, it depended on the type of
V.C. Colonel Grey was. V.C.s varied.

Mr. Flexen lost no time. It was nearly six o'clock. It was likely that
the Colonel would be back at his inn after his fishing. Mrs. Turnbull was
sure that he had as usual gone fishing, for, when he set out in the
morning, he had taken his rod with him. Antony Grey was not the man to
omit a simple precaution like that. Therefore, Mr. Flexen ordered a car
to be brought round, and was at the "Cart and Horses" by twenty past six.

He found that Colonel Grey had indeed returned. He sent up his card;
the maid came back and at once took him up to the Colo