"What else?"
Joanna made a face:
"The usual filth."
She threw the letter into the fire.
With a quick dash that hurt my back I was able to retrieve it before it hit the flames.
"Don't do this." I said.
"We might need it."
"Need it?"
"For the police."
Superintendent Nash came to see me the next morning.
I liked him at first sight.
He was a top quality criminal investigator.
Tall, with a military way, he looked tranquil and objective, besides being very simple.
"Good morning, Mr. Burton," he said.
"I expect you know why I am calling."
"Yes indeed.
The letter."
He nodded his head.
"You got one, right?"
"Yes, immediately after we arrived here."
"What did it say exactly?"
I thought a minute, then conscientiously repeated the wording of the letter as closely as possible.
The superintendent listened with an immovable face, showing no signs of any kind of emotion.
When I had finished, he said,
"I see.
You didn't keep the letter, Mr. Burton?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't.
You see, I thought it was just an isolated instance of spite against newcomers to the place."
The superintendent inclined his head comprehendingly.
"A pity," he said briefly.
"However," I said, "my sister got one yesterday.
I just stopped her butting it in the fire."
"Thank you, Mr. Burton, that was thoughtful of you."
I went across to the desk and unlocked the drawer in which I had put it. It was just, I thought, very suitable for Partridge's eyes.
I gave it to Nash.
He read it through. Then he looked up and asked:
"Is this the same appearance as the last one?"
"I think so - as far as I can remember."
"The same difference between the envelope and the text?"
"Yes," I said.
"The envelope was typed. The letter itself had printed words pasted onto a sheet of paper."
Nash folded and put it in his pocket. Then he said:
"I wonder, Mr. Burton, if you would mind coming down to the station with me?
We could have a conference there and it would save a good deal of tire and overlapping."
"Certainly," I said.
"You would like me to come now?"
"If you don't mind."
There was a police car at the door. We drove down in it.
I said, "Do you think you'll be able to get to the bottom of this?"
Nash nodded with easy confidence.