Clouds of Witness Part IV

Peter returns to Yorkshire to cheer up Jerry and to pursue his investigations. He is frustrated at his brother's determination not to say where he was on the night of Denis' death.. After pursuing some enquiries in Riddlesdale, the local town, Peter and Bunter go up on the moors to visit a shepherd who might have some information for them. On their way home, they encounter a fog which comes down suddenly, and makes it impossible to see where they are going. Peter has forgotten his walking stick which has a compass in its head and he and Bunter are soon hopelessly lost. They stumble into a bog known locally as Peter's Pot and Wimsey is soon sinking in the mud. Bunter tries to pull him out, but cannot. Thankfully they hear voices. One of the local men has found them and goes for help. They manage to pull Peter out, bruised, shaken and wet, and he finds that the nearest farm is Grimethorpe's. The grumpy farmer agrees to take him in for the night, though he clearly does not want to. The following morning, Peter awakens, and he and Bunter decide to make a quick exit from the farm. They know how jealous Grimethorpe is of any man approaching his beautiful wife. While Bunter is getting water for him to wash, Peter opens the window (they are sleeping in the main bedroom) and finds a piece of paper stuck in the sash. When he looks at it, he realises that it is the missing letter from Gerald's friend, Tommy Freeborn. Gerald had spent the night with Grimethorpe's neglected wife.. and must have stuck the paper into the windowframe to keep it from rattling.