human
Oh! beg pardon, gentlemen! he exclaimed, recognising us.
gpt
I thought it were Dr Richards. They've telephoned from the house to call him. He ought to be here by now.
human
What's the matter, Booth? What has happened? I asked, stepping into his clean little parlour where his wife greeted us with a curtsey.
gpt
Rainer came to us and said that somebody had been found dead, so we came out to hear all about it.
human
Yes, sir, that's right. John Harris found him some hours ago; but I was out on my beat across at Elsted, and they 'ad to fetch me. I've been up to Charlton Wood and seen 'im, but I've left 'im there till the gov'nor comes. We've strict orders never to move a body without the superintendent sees it first.
gpt
But tell us all about it, I urged.
human
Who's the man, and what has happened?
gpt
Well, John Harris was goin' 'is round as usual, when 'is dog found a man lyin' just inside the wood--stone dead. Shot in the chest. The sight, of course, gave 'im a fright, an' he comes down here quick and informs my missis. She told him to keep it dark, as we didn't want the whole village up there, an' sent him up to the house to telephone to Midhurst to the divisional surgeon. Then they came out and found me.
human
You don't recognise the dead man?
gpt
No. 'E's a stranger--maybe a tramp.
human
You haven't searched him?
gpt
Not yet. I'm waiting for the doctor and the gov'nor. I've telephoned to him in Chichester, only 'e may be out on inspection-duty.
human
And meanwhile the body is up in the wood? Is anybody there with it?
gpt
No, sir. We think it better to leave it there alone, otherwise the news'll spread and they'll tread out whatever marks of a struggle there maybe there.
human
Well, I said a moment later in as unconcerned a tone as I could,
gpt
Very well, gentlemen, was the constable's reply.
human
But you won't tell anyone yet, will you? And you won't go into the wood and tread about? If there's been murder committed, as there seems to have been, then we must find the guilty party,
gpt
Of course not, answered Eric.
human
We shall wait for you, as we don't know where the body is.
gpt
Ah! I never thought o' that, was Booth's reply.
human
All right, gentlemen, I'll be after you as soon as the doctor comes. He'll drive me on in his trap.
gpt
We must act quickly. Come, hurry along, I exclaimed, as soon as we were beyond the village.
human
We haven't a second to spare.
gpt
Why?
human
Didn't you say that we must save Tibbie? I asked.
gpt
Can't you see her serious peril? The fellow may have on him some letter or something that may incriminate her. We must get there and search him before Booth brings the doctor. What fortune that the body has been left unattended.
human
But is it? Eric queried.
gpt
Don't you think that Harris has spread the news among the other keepers and one or other of them are lurking near out of curiosity? Wouldn't it be infernally awkward for us if we were discovered rifling the dead man's pockets?
human
We must risk everything--for Tibbie's sake--for the sake of the family,
gpt
You have given it as your opinion that they were once lovers, I continued.
human
Therefore, if he had come there to blackmail her, what more natural than that he should carry with him something by which to impress her with his power over her? At all costs, therefore, we must try and satisfy ourselves that there is nothing to incriminate her.
gpt
Ah! my dear Wilfrid, he sighed.
human
It is really terrible--too terrible.
gpt
This is not the moment to discuss the affair. We must act,
human
This way, my friend directed.
gpt
The spot is up at that corner,