It was Sir Aaron Armstrong. A few more bewildered moments brought out a big fair-bearded man, whom some travellers could salute as the dead man's secretary, Patrick Royce, once well known in Bohemian society and even famous in the Bohemian arts.
Who would kill such a cheery old chap as Armstrong? Who could dip his hands in the gore of an after-dinner speaker?
"You see," said Father Brown, blinking modestly, "I'm not sure that the Armstrong cheerfulness is so very cheerful--for other people.
They walked some way in silence along the windy grassy bank by the rail, and just as they came under the far-flung shadow of the tall Armstrong house, Father Brown said suddenly, like a man throwing away a troublesome thought rather than offering it seriously: "Of course, drink is neither good nor bad in itself.
But poor Armstrong was killed with a giant's club, a great green club, too big to be seen, and which we call the earth.
All the motionless men had the ghostly sensation of the presence of some new person; and Merton was scarcely surprised when he looked up and saw the pale face of Armstrong's daughter over Father Brown's shoulder.
At that instant the air sprang to flame, a cracking shock of thunder shook the stunned world and Henry Armstrong tranquilly sat up.
Stretched naked on a long table lay the body of Henry Armstrong, the head defiled with blood and clay from a blow with a spade.
Leslie Armstrong is certainly a man of energy and character," said he.
Armstrong is at present of interest to us, but, now that I find he keeps so keen a look-out upon anyone who may follow him on these excursions, the affair appears more important, and I shall not be satisfied until I have made the matter clear."
Armstrong, whose name the obliging young lady at the office allowed me to read upon the counterfoil of Staunton's urgent message.
Armstrong, and football does not come within my horizon.
Armstrong's trail to-day, and once on it I will not stop for rest or food until I run him to his burrow."
A draghound will follow aniseed from here to John o'Groat's, and our friend, Armstrong, would have to drive through the Cam before he would shake Pompey off his trail.
In turn, Samuel
Armstrong, the founder of Hampton Institute, took up his work as a trainer of youth.
