BIGGLES AND THE PENITENT THIEF

by Captain W. E. Johns

5. BIGGLES SPEAKS HIS MIND (Pages 46 – 50)

“Biggles did not see his Chief again that day, but the following morning he was called to his office”. Biggles tells Raymond that Miller was inclined to be difficult at first, “but at the finish, with careful handling, he was as open as I could have wished”. Biggles tells Raymond that he thinks Tommy is inherently “as straight as a gun barrel” but the unfortunate affair with the stolen car was the cause of all the trouble. In return for coming clean, he obviously expects to be treated leniently. Biggles tells Raymond that Tommy would need to go with any recovery party to get the jewels as the whole island is a honeycomb of holes and it would be difficult to pin-point the right hole without him. Raymond says he has had a conversation with the Chief Commissioner and he is willing to go a little way. “In short, if Miller will produce the stolen property and make a full statement as to how it came into his possession, he will review the whole case in the most favourable light possible in the circumstances”. The Air Commodore adds “Miller can’t expect to get off scot-free”. (There are two possible origins of the phrase “scot-free”. It could come from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, where the line “we have Scotched the snake, not killed it” lead to “Scotch Free” meaning uninjured or unmarked. This became Scot-Free in colloquial speech. Alternatively, it could come from “skot” being an early Icelandic or Norse word for tax. Thus “scot-free” meant exempt from tax and was broadened to mean “exempt from punishment”). “I don’t see why not,” argued Biggles. “No self-confessed criminal ever made a more determined effort to do the right thing. Put him in prison, no matter for how short a time, and where does that get you?” Raymond wants Biggles to fly out to Labrador and bring home the jewellery. Biggles says if the idea is to get Miller to fetch the jewels, then arrest him when he’s handed it over, he will have nothing to do with it. “To gain his confidence and then rat on him at the finish … what sort of low-down hound would that make me?” Raymond looked uncomfortable. “I’m afraid it’s the best bargain he’ll get” adding “They aren’t my terms”. “I don’t care whose terms they are. They leave a nasty taste in my mouth” replies Biggles. “Be careful what you say, Bigglesworht,” warned the Air Commodore stiffly, asking “Which side are you on?” Biggles says “It isn’t a matter of taking sides, sir. I believe in giving a man a fair deal”. Biggles says he wants the Chief Commissioner’s word that if he takes Miller to Labrador and brings home the stolen property, Miller will not be arrested on his return. It’s as simple as that. “Of course, should he then go to the police on his own account and ask to be taken into custody, it would be a different matter”. “I’ll tell the Chief what you say, although that may mean a rap on the knuckles for both of us, for threatening insubordination,” offered the Air Commodore. Raymond says he will also get in touch with Canada to see how they feel about the matter and he will let Biggles know when he has anything definite to tell him. Biggles departs.