13

W hat was all that with Sir Thomas, then?’ Dick asks Bart as his friend rejoins him. Instinctively distrustful of any dealings with the law, Dick has hidden in Baker’s Row while Bart talked with the Justice.

‘Just giving him information, like a good citizen.’

Dick cocks a hand to his ear. ‘What’s that sound? Oh, horses laughing! Good citizen, my arse!’

‘It pays to keep on the sweet side of justice.’ Bart grins. ‘I told him I saw the killer get on his horse.’

‘You couldn’t have. You were blind cross-eyed out-of-it on Nick’s brew.’

‘How do you know? You weren’t even there.’

‘Silas told me. You couldn’t have seen anybody in your state.’

Bart chuckles. ‘You’re right, I didn’t. But Harcourt thinks the killer had a big black stallion.’ At Dick’s aghast look, Bart guffaws. ‘They’re scurrying round the countryside looking for a horse that doesn’t exist!’

‘S’truth, Bart! What happens when they find out?’

‘How are they going to do that? I told him I went to the midden when it was almost dark, and spied a shadowy figure mounting up and leaving.’

‘Wat Meredith rides a black horse.’

‘It’s not black, it’s bay. Anyway I told Sir Thomas you’d confirm it.’

Dick is big-eyed. ‘I can’t do that! I wasn’t there!’

‘Dick, my old friend, I told him you were passing by. I need an alibi.’

‘I don’t want nothing to do with this. I wasn’t there, I didn’t see a thing and that’s what I’m going to tell Sir Thomas.’

‘And you need an alibi as well, now.’

‘What d’you mean, “now”?’

‘Shall I tell Sir Thomas where you were, then?’

‘We agreed you’d keep quiet.’

‘Needs must. Take your choice, Dick.’

‘Gawd, Bart! He’ll bury me!’ Dick’s voice has risen several tones. ‘Very prot…protec… fond of his dairymaid, he is.’

‘A bit too fond, from what I hear. So what if he hears you’ve been horning in on his act?’