The Gimmel Flask by Douglas Clark

Author:Douglas Clark [Clark, Douglas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Published: 2019-01-23T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Masters and his two companions arrived at the Swan and Cygnets shortly after Green’s party.

“Six minds with but a single thought.”

“If they’re all like mine, Mr Masters,” said Hoame, “they’re not focused on beer.”

“Develop two planes of thought,” said Masters. “It’s important. School yourself to think of beer—or anything else for that matter—and meanwhile push the case into the back of your mind without dismissing it altogether. If you can achieve that, you’ll never be caught out. People will call you jammy and say you can’t even stop for a pint of beer without some clue dropping into your lap. They’ll be wrong, of course, because while you’re drinking you’ll still be on the job, working twice as hard as they are and thoroughly earning or deserving your luck.”

“Is that what you do?”

“I try to. For instance, I’ve noticed that while I’ve been talking to you, Mr Richard Benson, who is not unconnected with this case, has come into the bar.”

“So?”

“So I ask myself why he has come. Has he just dropped in for a drink, or has he come in in the hope of seeing somebody?”

“You, for instance?”

“Perhaps.”

“You can’t say he has.”

“Of course I can’t, but it’s a possibility I must consider. If I am pretty sure he would like to say something to me but isn’t quite sure how to approach me, I must make the effort to give him his chance.”

“For all you know he could hate the sight of you.”

“I know he doesn’t.”

“How?”

“Because he knows I am staying at this pub and that I’m not a teetotaller. It is, therefore, on the cards that should he come in here he would see me.”

“He couldn’t be a hundred per cent certain.”

“Of course not. But it is a risk—if he were trying to avoid me.”

“It could be that he doesn’t care either way.”

“That, too. But I know that he doesn’t frequent this or any other pub at nights because I found him at home last night. Furthermore he keeps a very well-stocked drinks cupboard which includes beer. This leads me to believe he is a home drinker. I can’t think that he keeps such a stock for visitors. Nor do I believe he is a heavy enough drinker to drink at home and at a pub.”

“You’ve now talked me into believing that he cannot have come here for any purpose except to see you.”

“That was my intention.”

“But he has made no move to contact you.”

“Because he is a man of innate courtesy and would not intrude while I was in conversation with a colleague on what might well be professional business.”

Hoame put his empty glass down. “Mr Telford knew what he was doing when he accepted, on our behalf, a few days tuition from you in direction. Have another, sir.”

“No, thank you. I have to see a man about an antique.”

But Masters was wrong. It was not an antique. It was a property deal.

“Mr Masters,” said Benson, who was sitting alone on a bar stool, “I hope you will forgive me for seeking you out.

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