Adders on the Heath

'I see. Now we come to the hub of the matter, and there is no need for you to attempt to shield anybody. You are to tell me the truth. Sit down, you boys. My question now concerns everybody in the form, those who saw the cupboard opened and those who did not. Is there any possibility that any of you, including, of course, Topley, could have obtained access to that cupboard at any time, apart from the time I have been told about?'

There was almost unbearable tension in the room. Fifteen pairs of mesmerised eyes were bent upon the Headmaster. Then a boy raised his hand. The Headmaster raised his eyebrows inviting the child to speak.

'Please, sir, I don't know about access, sir, but Topley did once show me two test-tubes with corks on the end, sir, and told me they had poison in them, sir.'

'Good heavens, boy! Did you not report this to Mr Joliffe?'

'No, sir.'

'Why ever not?'

'I didn't believe Topley, sir.'

'I see. Was any other boy shown these test-tubes?' Unwilling hands came up all over the room. 'Well, really! Had none of you a sufficient sense of responsibility to report so grave a matter?' One by one the hands dropped. 'Hawkins?'

'Well, no, sir. Topley was always-always-'

'Boasting?'

'Yes, sir. You could hardly believe anything he said, sir. He said he opened the poisons cupboard with a hairpin, sir.'

'Indeed? Well, go on, boy.'

The unhappy form captain lowered his eyes.

'Well, you couldn't, sir.'

'No, I believe that I could not.'

'Please, sir. I mean one couldn't, sir.'

'Then why not say so? You mean you yourself tried to do this?'

'Yes, sir.'

'And you in a position of trust?'

'Please, sir, it wasn't that, sir. I...I thought, if it was possible to do it, I ought to tell Mr Joliffe, sir, so the lock could be changed or something.'

'Oh, I see. I beg your pardon for doubting you, but, another time, boy, do not carry out rash experiments. You might find yourself in serious trouble.'

'No, sir. Yes, sir.'

'Now, a last question, Hawkins-and here there need be no hesitation. Did any master, at any time, impound or confiscate those test-tubes?'

'No, sir. Topley never brought them into class. He kept them in the dorm., sir.'

'Dormitory, boy. I dislike these moronic shortenings. Dormitory, not dorm. Laboratory, not lab. Chemistry, not Stinks.' There was a nervous, ingratiating titter from the form at this, except from the funny-man who, under cover of the sound, muttered, 'Mucus, not snot, you clot.' The Headmaster having restored himself to good temper by his own little jest, sent Hawkins to the Staff Common Room for Mr Sprott and, having enjoined silence upon the rest of the form, combined with an admonition that a pious study of the textbook was desirable until Mr Sprott should arrive, he took Dame Beatrice back to his study.

'What did you think?' he asked.

'I have an open mind,' she replied. 'There is nothing to show whether Clive did or did not contrive to obtain possession of the poisons.'

'Exactly my own opinion.'

'I am most grateful for your help. There is just one more thing, if you will be so good.'

'Certainly.'

'May I have a word with the art master?'

'I will send him to you in here. Am I permitted to ask...?'

'Of course. I want to find out when he last used potassium cyanide.'

'Potassium cyanide?'

'Etchers employ it. I thought perhaps he might have done so.'

'Oh, yes, I see. And, of course, there are always wasps' nests,' said the Headmaster helpfully. As it turned out, there was nothing to be gained from the art master, an exquisite young man in brown corduroy trousers and a bright blue smock with lots of paint on it. He did not appear to be in the least surprised by Dame Beatrice's questions.

'Used the stuff? Yes, of course I have. You have to bite an acid into the metal, you know. Have I ever used it here? No, I haven't. You don't usually teach etching to kids. Knew Joliffe had got it in his lab.? Never thought about it. How little can you know about the way the other man lives?'

Dame Beatrice went off to interview the Maidstons. This time she was lucky. Mr Maidston was at home. He was in the drawing-room practising tapping a golf ball into a teacup which was placed on its side. He was a tall,