When it came down to it, the prospect of having the sergeant prowling around in the middle of the night on the lookout for intruders did not appeal to anyone when it was first announced, least of all, Harold. As everyone expected, he exploded in a furious fit of rage and, initially, would have nothing to do with it. It took the personal appearance of the inspector himself to point out the alternative consequences, plus a heavily sedated drink from Rose, before he would allow himself to be led away, grumbling, to bed.
As Jill pointed out in a fit of giggles before they followed his example, ‘I hope the sergeant takes his boots off before he starts prowling.’
The trouble with the sergeant, however, was that he was too conscientious. He was acutely aware that he needed to distinguish himsel
