"What a pair of crackpots!" exclaimed Laura as they went upstairs to CID. "I thought we had enough weirdos on the Coal Lane, but I can see I've led a sheltered life."
"Yeah. Well. There was a sort of consistent internal logic to what the man was claiming, wouldn't you say?"
"If I could understand a word of it, I might think so. But as it is…"
"I mean, did he look like an arsonist to you?"
"I don't know. What's an arsonist look like, Reg?"
Reg shook his head. "If you ask me, it's a rare pleasure to meet this type of old school gentleman. Nobody values chivalry anymore."
"Chivalry?"
"Well, honesty. Taking a principled stand in the face of hostility."
"You believe that rubbish?"
"Well…" Reg scowled, vacillating. "All I'm saying is, perhaps we should have given him the benefit of the doubt."
"Perhaps we should've. Bu it isn't up to us anymore, Reg."
"No, unfortunately. I can only hope that CID will treat him with the respect he deserves."
Laura regarded Reg for a moment, somehow not at all surprised.
