In went the hand again. And out.
This time his find was a tight roll of five-pound notes.
He put them down beside the watch.
In again.
'I think that's it,' he said. 'No, hang about. Nearly missed that.'
That was a gent's gold signet ring. He tried it on his stubby little finger and looked at it admiringly.
'There it is,' he said. 'I was CPO once, Dave. Crime Prevention Officer. Persuading people not to leave their valuables in silly places was one of the jobs. Oh, these are your valuables, aren't they?'
The man and woman exchanged glances.
'Never seen 'em in my life,' she said.
'And you, Dave?'
Lee swore foully and said nothing more but looked around with a kind of wild contemplation.
'Aye, lad,' said Dalziel cheerfully. 'I'm on my own, so you could try thumping me, but I thought we'd settled all that already. Or you could run, in which case either I catch you and break a leg so you can't run no more, or else I send for some of my lads who'll break both your legs when they catch you. Best thing is to have a quiet stroll with me back to the Aero Club and on the way you can tell me all about the ponies of yours that keep on straying.'
'I've done nothing,' said the gypsy.
'No one's done nothing,' said Dalziel mildly, wrapping up his treasure trove in the small khaki blanket which he used for a handkerchief. 'Off we go. You too, love.'
Outside, the children paused in their play to observe the passing trio.
Dalziel grinned at them, pulled a handful of coppers from his pocket and tossed them into the air. They fell upon them, and each other, yelling wildly. A large lad, a stone or so heavier than his playmates, got the bulk of it.
'That's always the way of it,' said Dalziel philosophically.
Greenall looked with some surprise at Dalziel's companions when they reached the Aero Club.
'These two broke into the bar?' he asked.
'Mebbe,' said Dalziel.
'Are you sure? He couldn't possibly have got through that window, and it'd be a tight squeeze for her.'
'They'll have done something,' said Dalziel indifferently. 'All gyppos are guilty of something. Can I use your phone?'
He told the Lees to sit down in the bar and left them there while he went into the office.
When he emerged he found the secretary looking distinctly unhappy.
'What's up?' he said.
'Are you going to be long?' asked Greenall.
'Not long. Why?'
'It's just that it's nearly twelve and there will be members arriving shortly.'
'So? Oh, I see. The gyppos. I thought you didn't mind them, Mr Greenall. Something about free spirits, wasn't it?'
'Hardly free when they're in custody, Superintendent,' said Greenall acidly.
'That's a point,' said Dalziel. 'But don't worry. They'll be picked up just now.'
'Picked up? You're not taking them yourself?'
'No way,' said Dalziel. 'I've got better things to do than chauffeur a pair of tinkers around. No, they'll be safely locked away and I'll get round to them by and by.'
'But you can't do that, can you?' protested Greenall.
'Can and will,' said Dalziel. 'They're not going to go squawking off to a lawyer, that's for sure. And a couple of hours locked in a cell's often worth a day's questioning with a gypsy.'
Greenall regarded him with distaste and went away.
Dalziel joined the Lees in the bar.
'You're not very jolly,' he said to them.
'He says you've hurt his belly,' said the woman.
'More likely it's eating all them hedgehogs,' said Dalziel. But he went behind the bar and poured a large brandy which he handed to Dave Lee.
The police cars arrived at the same time as Bernard Middlefield whose indignation when he discovered the two gypsies in the bar was assuaged only slightly when he realized they were under arrest.
'Not before time,' he said. 'The police cells are the one part of this town that lot are welcome to.'
Mrs Lee said something rapidly to her husband.
'What was that?' enquired Dalziel.
Lee answered, 'She says this loudmouth hangs about the river bank where the kids swim and tries to give them money to feel him.'
Middlefield went such an interesting colour that Dalziel couldn't resist saying, 'You stay like that, Bernard, and you'll have to resign from the golf club.'
A more dangerous encounter occurred as he was giving his instructions to the constables from the cars. To one of them he handed a plastic bag borrowed from Greenall's kitchen into which he had transferred his floury finds.
'To the lab,' he said. 'I want to know all there is to know. And I want it yesterday.'
As the other escorted the Lees to the police car, a pale blue Lancia drew up and Thelma Lacewing and Ellie Pascoe got out.
Thelma was wearing a thin cotton suit in cream with a grey leaf pattern which ought not to have suited her colouring but somehow did. She frowned slightly at the sight of the police cars and went right past Dalziel without a glance.
Ellie who looked hot and uncomfortable in a smock which was stretched as far as it seemed likely to go said, 'Hello, Andy. Checking on pilots' licences, are you?'
'Hello, Ellie,' said Dalziel, beaming widely. 'You're looking grand. There are some flowers that look best in pod. Another business lunch, is it?'
'Another?'
'Aye. Peter told me about your last. You did right to mention Mrs Wildgoose to us. We'll make a snout of you yet.'
Ellie looked around uneasily but Thelma was out of earshot talking earnestly to Greenall.
'No, not business this time. Thelma just called unexpectedly. She's off this afternoon, thought she might try a flight.'
'Oh aye?'
Dalziel shot her a questioning glance.
'You're never thinking of going up yourself, lass?'
'I may do,' said Ellie. 'What about it?'
'In your state? Does Peter know about this?'
'Look, Andy,' said Ellie with growing indignation. 'What I do is my business. I make my own decisions. I'm a big girl.'
'That's what I mean,' said Dalziel.
But further discussion was prevented by the return of Thelma Lacewing.
'Those people you have just despatched, Superintendent, have they been charged?' she said in her quiet, rather over-precise voice.
Dalziel scratched his neck, winked at Ellie who turned away from this attempt at conspiratorial familiarity, and said, 'No, Ms Lacewing. They have not.'
'Are they going to be charged?'
'They're helping with enquiries. At this time I am not in a position to forecast the possible outcome of these enquiries,' said Dalziel, deliberately self-parodying.
'Not till they've been questioned, you mean?'
'Right.'
'By you?'
