THE HOLE IN THE THATCH Bent, taking his guest home to dinner after the police-court proceedings, showed a strong and encouraging curiosity.

He, in common with all the rest of the townsfolk who had contrived to squeeze into the old court-house, had been immensely interested in Brereton's examination of Miss Pett.

Now he wanted to know what it meant, what it signified, what was its true relation to the case?
"You don't mean to say that you suspect that queer old atomy of a woman!" he exclaimed incredulously as they sat down to Bent's bachelor table.

"And yet--you really looked as if you did--and contrived to throw something very like it into your voice, too! Man, alive!--half the Highmarket wiseacres'll be sitting down to their roast mutton at this minute in the full belief that Miss Pett strangled her master!" "Well, and why not ?" asked Brereton, coolly.

"Surely, if you face facts, there's just as much reason to suspect Miss Pett as there is to suspect Harborough.