12 JUNE 1971, Page 25

Crime friction

Sir: Mr Freeling's statement (5 June) that Mr Hare 'has to learn English' is even truer than he seems to realise. The actual figure of the detective . . . has laid out in the sun': can anyone interpret 'actual' and parse 'laid'—a transitive verb without object. What did he lay— an egg, a table, or information with the police?

J. R. Morrison Abbey Cottage, Coldingham, Ber- wickshire