Tragedy at Ravensthorpe

I

The Fairy Houses

“Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds. “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”

Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.

“One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place. Not that I don’t envy you people at Ravensthorpe,” he added, glancing round at the long front of the house behind him. “You’ve plenty of elbow-room in that castle of yours.”

Cecil made no reply; and they paced on for a minute or more before Sir Clinton again spoke.