“Well now, his lordship couldn’t be believing that the doctor’s murdered, and whatever made him write that note it’s my opinion that there was something behind it. And what’s more, Jimmy O’Loughlin says----” “Damn Jimmy O’Loughlin!” “Jimmy O’Loughlin says,” went on the sergeant, “that his lordship knows something, be the same more or less, about Patsy Devlin. I wouldn’t wonder now if he’d be able to tell you where the both of the two of them is gone and why.” “What about Patsy Devlin?” asked Mr. Goddard. “What sort of a man is he?” “He’s no great things any way you take him. He’s a bit foolish at times, and takes more than is good for him. I hear them say that he fretted a deal when they didn’t make him the inspector of sheep dipping. It might be that the disappointment preyed on him, that and the drink, so as he wouldn’t be rightly responsible for what he did.” “Was he mixed up with the League?” “He was one time, but there was a falling out between him and them over the sheep dipping. Patsy wasn’t what you’d call great with the League since then. I’m told he had a deal of money collected for the sports. Jimmy O’Loughlin let out to me that----” “It seems to me,” said Mr. Goddard, “that Jimmy O’Loughlin knows more about these disappearances than anybody else about the place.” “Unless it would be Lord Manton,” said the sergeant. “I’ll see Lord Manton anyhow,” said Mr. Goddard. “You can tell the constable to take my horse and trap round to the hotel. I’ll walk up to the Castle.” “It’ll be well,” said the sergeant, “if you get seeing his lordship.” He spoke meaningly. Mr. Goddard, who was half way to the barrack door, turned back. “What’s that you say?” “It’ll be well,” said the sergeant, “if you’re not told that his lordship’s away from home.” “What do you mean by that?” “I was up there yesterday,” said the sergeant; “off and on I was there for the most of the day; and I was up there again to-day, and all I got by it was word that his lordship was away from home. Jimmy O’Loughlin was saying----” “Go on,” said Mr. Goddard; “Jimmy O’Loughlin’s remarks are always valuable.” “He was saying that his lordship was within all the time. It was his opinion--I’m not saying was he right or wrong--but it was his opinion that his lordship didn’t want the police next or nigh him.” “Jimmy O’Loughlin,” said Mr. Goddard, “appears to be as big a fool as anybody about Clonmore.” CHAPTER XI