'They'll all be in bed. Christ. Bloody Sundays!'

There was a long pause. Then…

'Here he comes,' said Dalziel, slamming the window shut with even more violence than he had used to open it. 'Anything you want here, laddie?'

'Well, no; I mean yes,' said Pascoe in puzzlement.

'Grab it and go, then. What's the matter? Did you hope to see the master at work?' 'No. But I thought that as you know him – I mean, you are a vice-president of the Rugby Club and something of a friend.. .' 'A friend?' said the superintendent, twisting his fingers in one pouchy cheek so that his big mouth was dragged sinisterly out of shape. 'You've jumped to conclusions, Sergeant. Perhaps I better had let you watch the master some time. He's a great player, but I never said I liked him. Nor he me. Oh no, I never said I liked him. Push off now. We'll save you for later if need be.' Quickly Pascoe gathered a couple of files and some papers together and made for the door. There was a knock and it opened just as he reached it. 'Mr Connon, sir,' said the uniformed sergeant standing there. 'How are you, Mr Connon?' said Pascoe looking at the pale-faced man who stood a pace or two behind the sergeant. Solid. Yes, he looked solid all right. Still firm. No flabbiness in the face. Just the paleness of fatigue. But what is it that has drained your blood, Mr Connon? Grief? Or… 'Please come in, Mr Connon.' The loud voice broke his thoughts. He glanced round. Dalziel, his face a mask of sympathy so obviously spurious that Pascoe shuddered, was advancing with his hand outstretched. He stood aside to let Connon enter, then stepped out into the corridor leaving them together. 'He's like Henry Irving,' he said to the sergeant, shaking his head.

'Which one?'

'Which one? I don't know. Perhaps both. I'll be in here if I'm wanted.' And for all his resentment at his dismissal, he found he wished that he had been wanted.

'It might be nice to see the master at work.'