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'Is Sir Alfred here himself, Parker? he said. 'He is, sir. The Headmaster sighed inaudibly but very wearily. He was feeling worried already, and he knew from experience that a tete-a-tete with Sir Alfred Venner, M.P., of Badgwick Hall, would worry him still more.
A long white ribbon of dusty road separated St Austin's from the lodge gates of Badgwick Hall, the country seat of Sir Alfred Venner, M.P., also of 49A Lancaster Gate, London. Barrett walked rapidly for over half-an-hour before he came in sight of the great iron gates, flanked on the one side by a trim little lodge and green meadows, and on the other by woods of a darker green.
To the west, in the direction of Stapleton, the woods and hedges were thick with nests. But then, so they were to the east along the Badgwick road. He wavered, but a recollection that there was water in the Badgwick direction, and that he might with luck beard a water-wagtail in its lair, decided him. What is life without a water-wagtail's egg? A mere mockery. He turned east.
'We-e-ll, said the detective, slowly. 'It is this way. We have only got his word to go on as regards the cups. This man, Stokes, it seems is a notorious poacher. The night after the robbery he took the cups out with him on an expedition in some woods that lie in the direction of Badgwick. I think Badgwick is the name. 'Badgwick! Not Sir Alfred Venner's woods? 'Sir Alfred Venner it was, sir.
He might go and poach. There's heaps of opportunity round here for a chap who wants to try his hand at that. I remember, when I was a kid, Morton Smith, who used to be in this House remember him? took me to old what's-his-name's place. Who's that frantic blood who owns all that land along the Badgwick road? The M.P. man. 'Milord Sir Alfred Venner, M.P., of Badgwick Hall. 'That's the man.
I only know it because Welch and I ran there once last year. It's in the Badgwick direction, about three miles by road, mostly along the level. I vote we muffle up fairly well, blazers and sweaters and so on, run to Worbury, tea at one of the cottages, and back in time for lock-up. How does that strike you? 'It sounds all right. How about tea though? Are you certain you can get it? 'Rather.
Generally very much of Badgwick Hall. Came down last summer on Prize Day. One would have thought from the side on him that he was all sorts of dooks. Anyhow, Morton-Smith took me rabbiting there. I didn't know it was against the rules or anything. Had a grand time. A few days afterwards, Milord Sir Venner copped him on the hop and he got sacked. There was an awful row.
He was a good judge of character a headmaster generally is and he thought he could tell when a boy was speaking the truth and when he was not. His reflections were interrupted by a knock at the door. The butler entered with a card on a tray. 'Sir Alfred Venner, M.P., Badgwick Hall, said almost shouted the card. He read the words without any apparent pleasure.
Have you any idea where he was seen last? 'Harrison in my House says he saw him at about three o'clock. 'Ah! 'According to Harrison, he was walking in the direction of Stapleton. 'Ah. Well, it is satisfactory to know even as little as that. 'Just so. But Mace he is in my House, too declares that he saw Thomson at about the same time cycling in the direction of Badgwick.
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