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luckless body in the hayfield, a relief that it was not he who had committed the crime – as though the point had been undecided till now. Then his mind started working furiously and irrationally, like an engine accelerated with the clutch in. Well, at any rate this will prevent Hero going away. It’s an ill wind. But why should anyone? And who? WHO? The hayfield. Why the hayfield? Why not? In the morning, in the morning, in the happy field of hay. Only it’s the evening. Tiverton looked bad. Mouth twitching, like a baby going to cry. I wonder whereabouts in the hayfield. Nuisance; police about, I suppose; will mess up the work. Oh, of course, he said in one of the haystacks. How lovely Hero looked. Her body is the sunlight of my flesh. That’s blank verse. Not a very good line either. One of the haystacks. Which one? Come on, say it out. Not the Fifth form stack, I hope. I hope not. Why, what on earth does it matter to you which? Five haystacks. Odds are four to one against. Please don’t let it be there. Not where Hero and I were. Oh, dry up. Pull yourself together. The happy field of –
    He found himself in the study. The headmaster was there, a queer bluish tinge overlaying his ruddy cheeks, spasmodically putting on and taking off his pince-nez. He glanced round at his colleagues. They were restlessly silent, like people seeing off a train. Tiverton was not there. Michael mumbled some condolements to Vale, who replied: ‘Thank you, Evans, thank you. I – this shocking disclosure has quite unmanned me. Such a thing has never occurred in my school before.’ Griffin was not sufficiently overawed by the occasion to refrain from an outrageous wink at Michael. Vale went on, his habitual pedantry of phrase contrasting oddly with his broken, almost appealing tones. ‘The poor, unfortunate boy! It passes my comprehension why anyone should want to – to, er, make away with him! The scandal! The publicity! I have asked Tiverton to make it known among the boys that my nephew has met with an accident, a fatal accident. It may yet be possible to prevent the – a-ah – facts from reaching the parents. I have rung up Dr. Maddox: he will be here shortly: and the police, of course. I should be obliged, Griffin, if you would meet the doctor when he comes and take him to – I do not feel capable myself. If you have any suggestions, any of you, as to other immediate steps that might be taken –?’
    Michael realised that Vale was asking to be relieved of his responsibilities, and said: ‘Perhaps it would be advisable for me – for Sims and myself to go out and see that the men do not interfere with the – the scene of the crime. I believe that the police would wish things to remain as far as possible as they were found.’
    ‘Certainly, Evans, certainly. An excellent suggestion.’
    ‘Excuse me, headmaster, but should we not – er – get in touch with the unfortunate boy’s relatives?’
    Vale, relieved of the necessity for action, was in a mood to resent any further encroachment upon his authority.
    ‘My dear Sims, it should be unnecessary for me to have to assure you that any such very obvious steps would have been taken by me, if the situation had called for them. As it happens, I am the boy’s nearest living relative myself. If you have no more constructive proposals to make, perhaps you will accompany Evans and give him what assistance you can.’
    Sims blushed and Michael felt awkward. Vale, feeling better for his act of devastation, indicated that the audience was over, and Sims and Evans went out of doors. Michael, fearing the worst, forced himself to look towards the hayfield. A group of men with pitchforks was gathered round one of the haystacks. Yes, the Fifth form one. It would be. Half of the structure had been demolished and the last sunlight shone sadly on the red and yellow of the new wagon beside it. The labourers stepped back a pace as Evans and Sims approached. Where part of the wall had been lifted,