J. S. Fletcher

“ CHAPTER XI A SIDE-TRACK SUGGESTION As Brixey and Gaffkin turned into the police station, the constable who had acted as intermediary between them and his inspector once or twice, by carrying messages to the "Mitre" came hurrying out and pulled himself up at sight of them.
"Just going to fetch you, sir," he said, looking at Brixey. "Mr Crabbe would like a word with you. There’s a man come in from Normanstead with some news." ”

“ Well, now, Tuesday morning, about a quarter to twelve, as near as I can remember, maybe a bit earlier, I was in Foxglove Lane, among the gorse bushes—never mind what for, 'cause it's nothing to do with this.
"I sees two gentlemen coming along from the direction of them Priory grounds, which, as Mr. Crabbe there can tell you, if you don't know yourselves, is at the top o' the lane. Now, in course, I don't know who these gentlemen were—by name, you understand—though I've seen one of 'em, time and again, in Selchester streets. ”

“ Come round to his rooms, gentlemen—they’re close by."
He took Brixey and Gaffkin down the street until they came to a point where a narrow alley turned off in the direction of the cathedral close—there, at the corner of the main street and the alley, stood a saddler's shop with the name Strike over it in gilt letters, on a powder-blue ground. Crabbe pointed to some lighted windows on the first floor.
"Those are Mesham's rooms," he said. "He has the whole floor—very comfortable, too, I can assure you! He knows how to look after himself. ”