The Iron Horse

Seeing indignation show in the man’s face, Colbeck assured him that he was not a suspect in the case. He failed to mollify Lord Hendry.

‘Swinnerton had no right to give you my name,’ he said sharply.

‘He had no choice, Lord Hendry. This is a criminal investigation. Withholding evidence would have made him liable to arrest.’

‘Breaking a confidence like this also renders him liable to the harshest reproach, Inspector, and I shall deliver it. Elijah Swinnerton will get no more business from me, I promise you that.’

‘All that concerns me is one particular hatbox.’

‘It concerns me as well,’ said the other. ‘That hatbox was stolen from a hotel where my wife and I stayed earlier this year. We went to the races in Newmarket.’

‘Is that where the hotel was?’

‘No, Inspector – it was in Cambridge.’

‘Which hotel would that be?’

‘That’s of no consequence.’

‘Have you any idea who took the hatbox?’ asked Leeming, finally tearing his eyes from the painting and feeling that he should make a contribution. ‘Did you report the theft to the police, Lord Hendry?’

‘No, Sergeant.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because I chose not to, man. It was only a hatbox. Fortunately, there was no hat inside it so I did not feel that it justified a hue and cry. To be honest, I’d forgotten the whole business.’

‘What about your wife?’ said Colbeck.

‘What about her?’

‘Well, she must have been upset by the theft. What did she do when she first discovered it?’

‘Let’s keep her out of this, shall we?’ said Lord Hendry quietly. ‘My wife is not in the best of health. Losing that hatbox was a shock to her at the time. If she heard what became of it, it would cause her a lot of unnecessary distress. I’d rather she was not brought into this at all. I’m sure that I can count on your discretion, Inspector.’

‘Yes, my lord.’

‘And while we’re on the subject, I’d be very grateful if my name could be kept out of any newspaper reports. It would not only trouble my wife deeply, it would cause a lot of distraction for me. With the Derby in the offing, I need to concentrate all my energies on the race. I could never do that with reporters snapping at my heels.’

‘We’ll keep them well away from you.’

‘Especially if you give us any advice about the Derby,’ said Leeming with a hopeful smile. ‘You must have a good idea who the serious contenders are.’

‘The only serious contender,’ declared Lord Hendry with a gesture in the direction of the fireplace, ‘is the horse in that painting. I commissioned it by way of celebration of his victory. There’s the winner, Sergeant – Odysseus.’

‘Thank you, my lord.’

‘There are other horses in the race,’ Colbeck reminded them.

‘None that can touch Odysseus,’ insisted Lord Hendry.

‘What about Merry Legs?’

‘An overrated filly.’

‘Hamilton Fido is a shrewd judge of horses.’

‘I question that.’

‘Mr Fido did win the Derby once before, Lord Hendry.’

The older man appraised him. ‘You seem to know a lot about the Turf, Inspector,’ he said. ‘Are you a confirmed racegoer?’

‘My job gives me little opportunity to be one,’ said Colbeck sadly, ‘but I do read the racing pages and I like an occasional wager. From what I hear, this year’s Derby will be a three-horse race.’

‘With Odysseus being the winner,’ said Leeming.

‘We shall see, Victor. I fancy that Merry Legs, owned by Hamilton Fido, will not be easily beaten.’

‘Yes, she will,’ said Lord Hendry firmly.

‘How can you be so sure?’

‘That’s my business, Inspector.’

‘What about Limerick Lad? He, too, will pose a challenge.’

‘If that’s what you feel, put your money on the horse.’

‘I think I’ll bet on Odysseus,’ said Leeming.

Colbeck was circumspect. ‘And I’ll make up my mind nearer the time of the race,’ he decided. Reaching into his pocket, he took out a piece of cartridge paper and unfolded it. ‘This is an artist’s impression of the young man whose head was discovered in the hatbox. It’s a rough approximation of what he must have looked like. I wonder if you might recognise him.’

‘Let me see.’ Lord Hendry took the drawing from Colbeck and studied it for a full minute before shaking his head. ‘No, Inspector,’ he said at length. ‘I’m sorry but I can’t help you.’ He returned the paper. ‘Have you any idea at all who he might be?’

‘Not yet, my lord, but we will do before too long. Apart from anything else, someone is likely to report him missing.’ After folding the paper, Colbeck slipped it back into his pocket. ‘Well, thank you for seeing us,’ he said. ‘We won’t trouble you any further.’ Leeming’s attention had drifted back to the painting of the horse. ‘It’s time to go, Victor. Bid farewell to Odysseus.’

Prodded out of his reverie, the sergeant thanked Lord Hendry profusely before following Colbeck out. The cab was waiting for them outside the house and they clambered in. Colbeck was pensive but his companion was overcome with envy. As they drew away, the sergeant looked back over his shoulder.

‘What a wonderful existence!’ announced Leeming. ‘To live in a mansion like that and to own racehorses – it’s my notion of paradise. Lord Hendry was such an impressive gentleman in every way.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Colbeck. ‘A pity that he felt the need to lie to us.’

‘He struck me as an honest, straightforward man.’

‘You may revise that opinion when you go to Cambridge.’

Leeming spluttered. ‘Cambridge?’

‘I want you to find the hotel where Lord Hendry stayed.’

‘Why?’

‘Two reasons, Victor. I’d like to know how and when that hatbox was stolen. And I’d like you to get a good description of the woman posing as Lady Hendry.’

‘But she was Lady Hendry. You heard what he said, sir.’

‘What I heard was a man being evasive,’ said Colbeck. ‘If he really had been there with his wife, he’d have volunteered the name of the hotel instead of refusing to give it. And if he was going to the races in Newmarket, why not stay there instead of Cambridge?’

‘Perhaps the accommodation is better in Cambridge.’

‘It’s not the accommodation that interests me but the person with whom he was sharing it, the person for whom he bought that hat in Jermyn Street. Since we can’t get her name from Lord Hendry, we’ll have to find it by other means.’

Leeming sighed. ‘Do I have to take a train to Cambridge?’

‘Go on horseback, if you prefer. Emulate a king.’

‘What king?’

‘Charles II,’ said Colbeck. ‘He used to ride all the way to Newmarket to see the races then ride back to London again. That’s upwards of eighty miles in the saddle. Do you think you could manage that in a day, Victor?’

‘I’ll go by rail,’ conceded Leeming. ‘And I hope you’re wrong about Lord Hendry. He spoke so caringly about his wife that it never crossed my mind he might have a mistress.’

‘You’re too trusting, Victor.’

‘What other lies did he tell us?’

‘Wait and see.’