Being a novelist, one whose temperament sought for sunshine rather than gloom in life, he wound up in lighter vein.

The ruse which tricked P.C.Robinson into a breathless scamper of nearly a mile on a hot day in June was described with gusto.

Doris, who knew the village constable well, laughed outright, while Furneaux cackled shrilly.

None who might be watching the little group in that delightful garden, with its scent of old-world flowers and drone of bees, could have guessed that a grewsome tragedy formed their major theme.
The girl was the first to realize that even harmless merriment was in ill accord with the presence of death, for the body of Adelaide Melhuish lay within forty yards of the place where they stood.
"May I leave you now ?" she inquired.

"Father may be wanting help in the office." "I shan't detain you more than a few seconds," said Furneaux briskly.