“Where is he?” Chilton had never been to the barn and had no idea where to go.
“He has a flat above the stables. It is easy to find.”
“Very well,” he said, placed the lantern on the ground, and ran toward the barn at the back of the house. Harry still had a firm hold of the man.
* * *
Immediately after Chilton left, Harry could see Maria running down the hill towards him. She was also carrying a lantern.
“Harry, what is it? Aunt Agatha said there was trouble.”
“I think this man was poisoning the cattle. Look around and see if you can find anything this man might have been using.”
Maria searched amongst the carcasses. She saw something and picked it up. It was a can of something that looked like salve. “Here. What do you think this might be?” she asked.
She walked over to Harry and showed it to him. He turned back to the man. “What is this?”
“The Duke give it me. Said I was to rub this on the muzzles of these here cattle. Gave me a gold piece and promised me another when I was done,” the man said still shaking.
“The Duke of Crauford?”
“Yes, sir. Him. But he did not tell me it would harm these beasts, sir.”
“Do you think he is telling the truth?” Maria asked.
“Could be.”
At that point Evans, Harry’s manager, and Chilton came running toward them.
“What is it, Your Lordship,” Evans asked as he ran up and knelt beside the fallen animals and began examining them.
“We think it is poison. Several are dead but there are a couple which are still alive. Can you do anything for them?” Harry asked.
“Unlikely. How was it administered?”
“On their noses and perhaps tongues.”
“Just on the noses,” the man offered, trying to help. “I did not know. Truly sir, I did not.”
“Do what you can Evans.” Harry turned to the man. “How many did you do this to?”
Just those on the ground, sir.”
Harry said to Chilton, “You saved a lot of our cattle, Mr. Oakley. And I thank you for that.”
“Happy I could help.”
Harry turned back to his captive. “I believe what you tell me… what is your name?”
“Simon Polder.”
“Mr. Polder, I tell you what I am going to do. I want you to go with me to the constable and tell him what you told me. I will vouch for you and I plan to bring charges against the Duke. I want you to be the witness. If you do that, I will not press charges against you. Will you help me with this?”
“I will, for I did mean no harm. I thought it be just a prank of some sort.”
“Then wait here. Do not run. Do you promise?”
“I do.”
