A Chalked Message

"If he's a wise man, then he won't have ventured inside," Cecil says. "Apart from the obvious reason, in this sort of neighbourhood leaving a coach and horses unattended is just asking to have them stolen."

But when we go round to the front of the inn, though the coach and its two horses are still there there is no sign of the coachman. He must have felt that he had to enter the inn and see if we were all right, for the noise of the fight can easily be heard from out here.

"I've just remembered," Cecil says. "I have a piece of chalk in my pocket, in case I should want to keep score on a slate for a game of dominoes. You can write a message on the coach door. If your friends should return to the coach, the moonlight ought to be bright enough for them to see it. You can let them know where you've gone."

So I write, all in capitals (more legible than lower case letters in the moonlight, and besides straight lines are easier than curved when you're using chalk): I'M OK. CAME OUT HERE, WHERE IT'S MUCH SAFER. I'VE MADE A FRIEND AND BEEN INVITED INTO HIS HOME. WILL BE BACK HERE IN AN HOUR OR SO. HARRY.

Then we take the short walk to Cecil's home.

1. It turns out that he's on the level.
2. I should have known better than to trust a stranger, however charming.

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