calm pervades here. Trees have been planted all around the water just closely

enough to give a pleasant shade to the banks, while here and there clusters of

tall reeds and bulrushes break the water's surface and its still reflection of

the sky. My footwear is not such as to permit me easily to walk around the

perimeter - I can see even from where I now sit the path disappearing into areas

of deep mud - but I will say that such is the charm of this spot that on first

arriving, I was sorely tempted to do just that. Only the thought of the possible

catastrophes that might befall such an expedition, and of sustaining damage to

my travelling suit, persuaded me to content myself with sitting here on this

bench. And so I have done for the past half-hour, contemplatin8 the progress of

the various figures seated quietly with their fishing rods at various points

around the water. At this point, I can see a dozen or so such figures, but the

strong lights and shades created by the low-hanging branches prevent me from

making any of them out clearly and I have had to forgo the small game I had been

anticipating of guessing which of these fishermen is the Colonel at whose house

I have just received such useful assistance.

 

It is no doubt the quiet of these surroundings that has enabled me to ponder all

the more thoroughly these thoughts which have entered my mind over this past

half-hour or so. Indeed, but for the tranquillity of the present setting, it is

possible I would not have thought a great deal further about my behaviour during

my encounter with the batman. That is to say, I may not have thought further why

it was that I had given the distinct impression I had never been in the employ

of Lord Darlington. For surely, there is no real doubt that is what occurred. He

had asked: "You mean you actually worked for that Lord Darlington?" and I had