Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

Canon Pennyfather looked at Chief Inspector Davy and Inspector Campbell, and Chief Inspector Davy and Inspector Campbell looked at him.Canon Pennyfather was back in his home again.He sat in a large armchair in the study, with a pillow under his head, his feet on a cushion, and a thick blanket draped over his knees to accentuate his frailty. "I'm afraid," he was saying politely, "I can't think of anything at all." "You can't remember how you got hit by a car?" "Sorry, I really can't remember." "Then how do you know you were hit by a car?" Inspector Campbell asked aloud.

"A woman there named—is that Mrs. Wheeling—told me." "How did she know?" Canon Pennyfather looked bewildered. "Why, you're right. She can't know, can she? I think she thinks it must have happened that way." "You really can't remember anything? How did you get to Milton St. John?" "I don't know," said Canon Pennyfather, "even the name is very strange to me." Inspector Campbell grew more and more exasperated, but Chief Inspector Davy said in a comforting, homely voice: "Just tell us the last thing you do remember, sir."

Canon Pennyfather looked back at him, relieved.The Inspector's relentless skepticism made him feel like he was on pins and needles. "I was going to Lucerne for a conference. I took a taxi to the airport - at least to Kensington." "Well, what then?" "That's all. I can't remember the rest. The next thing I can remember is the wardrobe." "What wardrobe?" asked Inspector Campbell. "It's misplaced." Chief Inspector Davy interrupted Inspector Campbell, who was about to probe further about the improperly placed wardrobe. "Do you remember arriving at the airport, sir?"

"I suppose so," said Canon Pennyfather, but he seemed quite uncertain about that, too. "So you flew to Lucerne on time." "Really? If that's the case, I don't remember anything." "Do you remember that you were back at Bertram's Hotel that night?" "No." "You surely remember Bertram's Hotel?" "Of course. I live there and it's very comfortable. I keep my room." "Do you remember traveling by train?" "Trains? No, I can't think of trains." "There's been a robbery. That train has been robbed. Sure, Canon Pennyfather, you'll remember that."

"I should, shouldn't I?" said Canon Pennyfather, "but somehow—" he said apologetically, "—I can't remember." Policemen. "So you mean you can't remember anything from the time you got in a taxi to the airport until you woke up in the Wheelings' farmhouse in Milton St John?" "That's normal," Mr. Canon assured him. "If you have a concussion, it happens a lot." "When you woke up, what did you think happened to you?" "I had such a terrible headache that I could barely think. Then of course I wanted to know where I was, so Mrs. Wheeling explained to me and brought me some really nice soup. She called me 'darling',' Sweetie' and 'baby'," said Mr. Cannon, a little displeased, "but she's very kind. Very kind indeed."

"She should have reported the incident to the police so you can be taken to the hospital with proper care," Campbell said. “She took excellent care of me,” Mr. Cannon retorted, a little emotionally, “and I know with a concussion, it’s hard to do anything other than keep the patient quiet.” "If you think of anything else, Canon Pennyfather..." Mr. Canon interrupted him. "For four whole days, it seemed to be lost from my life," he said. "It was very strange. It was very strange. I really wanted to know where I was and what I did. The doctor told me that I might think about it." It may happen, but it may not. I may never know what happened to me in those days." His eyelids quivered a few times. "Excuse me, I think I'm too tired."

"You've talked enough," said Mrs. McRae, who had been hovering by the door, ready to intervene if she felt necessary.She walked towards them. "The doctor said he couldn't be worried." She said firmly. The two policemen stood up and walked towards the door.McCree led them out into the hall like a conscientious collie.Mr. Canon muttered something, and Chief Inspector Davy - who was the last to pass through the door - turned instantly. "What's that?" he asked, but Mr Canon's eyes were closed by then. "Did you hear what he said?" Campbell asked.They declined Mrs. McRae's lukewarm offer of snacks, and left Mr. Canon's house.

"Father" said thoughtfully: "I think he meant 'Wall of Jericho.'"