Far safer ’twere to stay at home!’ ROBERT HERRICK, To His Muse ‘NOW DON’T WASTE time swearing,’ said Laura. ‘Put on your clothes and come downstairs. How bright is this girl? The kind to go off with any handsome stranger?’ ‘No.’ ‘All right then. We add her brains to ours. Don’t have a fit. Just be quick.’ Roger was quick. He pulled on trousers, a sweater and a sports jacket over his pyjamas and put on socks and shoes. Laura, who had been fully dressed, added a wind-jacket to her tweed costume. ‘Get hold of a good thick stick,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a gun.’ ‘A gun?’ ‘Sure, bo. Mrs Croc. gets threatening letters sometimes. She never bats an eyelid, but I get nervous. Hence the gatling. Now for the plan of campaign. Remember that, so far as we know, it’s you they want to get, not the wench. So watch out for yourself, and keep your eyes and ears open. I’ll be right back as soon as there’s anything to report.’ ‘Report be damned!’ said Roger, resenting her cheerful tone.
