‘I have done my best. I came here to Brattleboro for that purpose, to help the boy if I could.’
The words came out awkwardly. Throat too dry.
‘This has been your main object?’
He managed to force the word out.
‘Yes.’
Laughter broke out all round him as Hitt drawled, ‘And incidentally you have written some, I suppose?’
The old dizziness claimed him. He couldn’t get his head clear. Yet he must, there was no-one else to stand up for him.
Hitt had stuck his thumbs in his waistcoat. Mountebank.
‘When did you last see Mr. Balestier before this incident?’
‘Not since the end of April, I believe.’
‘Is it not the case that you encountered him at least three times during that period, on May 1st in passing on the road and twice on the day following in town?’
It came back to him now. Nothing
