Death of a Burrowing Mole

‘I wouldn’t like to,’ he said, ‘but I suppose I must. What do you want – a love story?’

‘That would be most agreeable and would pass the time at our disposal very pleasantly.’

‘But it wouldn’t be what you’re here for.’

‘Who can tell? Commence. I am all agog.’

‘You will have to tell me where to begin.’

‘How long have you known Dr Lochlure?’

‘On and off, for about two years.’

‘Why haven’t you married her?’

‘Lack of filthy lucre. You can’t expect a girl like her to settle for a cottage and live on home-grown potatoes.’

‘And your own tastes,’ said Dame Beatrice, with an eye on his beautiful clothes, ‘do not run that way, either.’

‘Look, I know better than to fence with you, Dame Beatrice. You want me to confess that, with Veryan out of the way, I stand a good chance of being offered the chair of archaeology at my university. Very well, I admit it. They can hardly pass me over. All the same, I didn’t kill him and I can’t tell you who did.’

‘Ignoring the fact that I have had your story already from the police, will you tell me, in as much relevant detail as you think fit, exactly how you spent the weekend of Professor Veryan’s death?’

‘I can’t, without involving Susannah.’

‘Then by all means involve her. When I release you, I shall talk to her. She will have every chance of refuting your statements, should she think it well to do so. Remember, too, that only those indiscretions which lead to crime are of any interest to the police and, in this case, to me. They and I pool all our information, you know.’

‘I know I am high on the list of suspects. At least, I shall be if the police can ever prove that Malpas Veryan was murdered. But, if I caused his death, should I confess so freely that, because of it, I have every prospect of stepping into his shoes?’

‘And, I understand, of having half his fortune for a research project. There was no need for you to confess to something which is bound to be common knowledge very soon. Do tell me what was behind the story of the mouse.’

‘What story of what mouse?’

‘The mouse which provided you with an excuse to remove Dr Lochlure from Miss Broadmayne’s home.’

‘Sorry, but I have no idea what you’re talking about. Is this another version of the Isle of Man’s talking mongoose?’

‘I still hope that you will give me an account of how you spent the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, especially the Sunday night on which Professor Veryan died.’

‘I have already given a full account to the police.’

‘I am still wondering whether you would care to alter that statement in any way?’

‘No, I wouldn’t. Whether it is exactly accurate or not is beside the point. It’s a good story and I don’t propose to depart from it. It doesn’t matter what young Fiona has told you. I am not risking Susannah’s reputation by admitting that I slept with her.’

‘Although you did. Very well, Mr Tynant. Please ask for Dr Lochlure to come in.’

‘I insist upon hearing the questions you put to her.’

‘If she has no objection, neither have I.’

‘You mean that?’

‘Please ask the policeman on duty to send her in.’

Nicholas walked to the door. There was a short colloquy at the end of which Susannah, raising her voice a little, said, ‘Certainly not. Listeners hear no good of themselves. I shall see Dame Beatrice alone, as everybody else has done. Do you want tongues to wag even more than they’re wagging already? Don’t be tiresome.’ With that, she entered the room and shut the door.

‘Ah,’ said Dame Beatrice, ‘I am glad to know that you can manage your men.’

‘Men? In the plural? You flatter me, Dame Beatrice.’

‘I think not, unless all but one of the male sex are blind. Would you prefer to have my secretary sit in on our conference?’

‘You are such an intimidating inquisitor that I rather think I would like to have someone else present. May I ask her to come in? She is in the corridor.’

‘Please. Well, now, do I understand that there are certain aspects of your story which you wish to amend?’

‘You know, Dame Beatrice, I do think this is rather unfair. You hear everybody else’s account and then you ask me for mine. Suppose mine does not tally with what you have been told already? What are you going to think?’

‘That someone is lying, but that the someone need not be yourself.’

‘I suppose Fiona Broadmayne has been making mischief.’

‘She certainly gave a somewhat different picture of her weekend from the one she gave to the police. I shall be glad to have your version.’