BIGGLES SEES TOO MUCH

by Captain W. E. Johns

8. PROBLEMS (Pages 72 – 78)

“When Biggles had told Mrs Cator, at his lodging at Fernside Cottage, that he was going to take a short walk for some fresh air before turning in, he meant exactly that”.

Biggles wants time to think in private. He walks towards Penlock Grange and in due course reaches the gates where he stands in thought. There is something inside the gates, shining white in the moonlight and curiosity causes Biggles to go in and get it. “He nearly screwed it up there and then and put it in his pocket to dispose of later, thinking some litter-bug had passed that way. On second thoughts, still more from curiosity than any real interest, he looked at it closely”. Biggles has to use the light from his petrol lighter to read it, but he is astonished to see the name of a small restaurant close to his flat in London. One he often used. Biggles looks for other pieces and soon finds all four bits which make the flap of a packet of book matches. Ginger must have left this to show he had gone up the drive. Biggles goes up the drive himself as Ginger may well be in danger. Bertie will have to wait. Biggles can see the bulk of the house silhouetted against the night sky. There are two lights on the ground floor, a large room and one that is presumably the hall. There is a light on the first floor and also higher up, in perhaps an attic room. Biggles goes and hides in a position close to the outside wall of the porch. A car comes up the drive and stops outside the main door. A man gets out and goes to the door. When it is answered, the new arrival says “Good evening, Bates. Is my brother in?” Biggles recognises the voice of Stephen Brunner, the landlord of “The Fisherman’s Arms” at Polcarron. (How? Biggles has never met him in the story so far. It was Bertie who spoke with him at breakfast and Biggles wasn’t there). Biggles also recognises the voice of Bates, the chauffeur who drove the Daimler.