Spotted Hemlock

‘As the work of an unscrupulous man.’

‘Unscrupulous enough to commit murder?’

‘Murder is often not only the result of unscrupulousness but is also a matter of expediency.’

‘I can see why he should kill Norah Coles if he took her away and, as they say, “done her wrong,” but I can’t see how the sister Carrie comes into it. Still, they must be pretty well alike for their own mother to have mixed them up when she identified the body.’

‘As we have already realised, that attempt at identification was a horrid and difficult matter. Perhaps, after all, we had better go over to Northern Ireland and see Mr Basil for ourselves. Armed with the college photographs, we should be able to ascertain whether his companion is Mrs Coles.’

‘We don’t know that he’s got a companion. He may simply be hiding from the English police.’

‘Then Northern Ireland is not the most sensible place to choose. Kindly obtain reservations for our journey and rooms at an hotel in Londonderry, and we will be off at the earliest possible moment.’

Nothing could have suited Laura better. By the end of the week they were established in the Hotel Fingal, just outside Londonderry, the hotel in which, according to Simnel’s diary, their quarry was also staying. At that time of year the hotel was by no means crowded and it was not long before they felt certain that they had identified Basil. He was a hearty, uninhibited creature of about forty, fattish and going slightly bald. The hotel employed waitresses only, and his manner with the girl who looked after his table was what Laura had been led to expect. He was loud- laughing and brash, and appeared to embarrass the girl a good deal.

‘This,’ said Laura to Dame Beatrice, ‘is where I scrape acquaintance with Piggy. His looks give point to his name. I am observing him closely, and, as soon as the time is ripe, I suggest that I spring myself upon him with a moot question about holiday camps. What do you think about that?’

‘It might be as good a way as any other of giving him either a shock, a warning or a chance of telling you that he has never been to such a place in his life.’

‘You don’t think he would simply come clean and give me the low-down about himself and his girl-friend? Wonder where she is? Nobody seems to be sharing his table.’

‘I hardly think he will be prepared to confide in you. Still, do your best and bravest. The repercussions should be of interest.’

Laura’s opportunity soon came. In fact, Basil himself provided it. She arranged so that they reached the door of the lounge together. Piggy opened it with a flourish,and an unnecessary obeisance, Laura thanked him, sailed through and seated herself on a settee. From the reputation he had been given, she felt certain that he would join her, and so he did. Dame Beatrice, who, by arrangement, had left the dining-room earlier, watched the little comedy from an armchair near the fire.

Laura took out a cigarette and Basil’s lighter was immediately brought into play. Laura thanked him again and asked how he liked the hotel.

‘Oh, I’m leaving tomorrow,’ he said. ‘At least’—with a gallant smirk—‘I was. Not so sure now, Mrs…?’

‘Gavin.’ (He had been quick to spot the wedding-ring, thought Laura. A mistake, perhaps, not to have removed it.) ‘You do like it here, then? Do you know the country well?’

‘So-so. You can’t do much without a car, and I didn’t bring mine over.’

‘Do you fish or sail or anything?’

‘I’ve sailed a bit. As a matter of fact, I’m over here on a job.’

‘How interesting!’

‘Pigs. Wanted to study the bacon industry over here. Been all over the place—up here, in Eire— everywhere.’

‘I adore pigs.’

‘Really? That’s surely very unusual in one of the fair sex. Tell me more about yourself.’

‘I’m afraid I’m not an interesting sort of person. I’d much rather hear about you. Has it taken you long to—er—study the bacon industry?’

‘I’ve been over here since the end of August.’

‘Indeed? I’m afraid I’m gregarious. I couldn’t do even an interesting job unless plenty of other people were doing it, too. My husband always says that I’d be the last person on earth to be a Robinson Crusoe.’

‘Oh, I had my Man Friday—or, rather, girl Friday—all right, but only for a week or two. She had to go back, then, to complete her education.’

‘Oh, your daughter, you mean?’

Basil found this suggestion immoderately amusing.

‘Now, I ask you, Mrs Gavin!’ he protested. ‘Do I look the sort of bloke to cart adolescent daughters about with me? No, my dear lady, I want a chance to enjoy myself when I’m off the leading- strings.’

‘Oh, I see. A college student, then?’

‘Yes, and a very charming and quite sophisticated one.’

‘I should have thought a Youth Hostel would have suited a student better than a hotel like this, or, possibly, one of those holiday camps.’

‘Yes, but, you see, my dear Mrs Gavin, they wouldn’t have suited me. And as (if you’ll forgive a rather crude statement) I was paying the piper…!’

‘Yes, I see. Students aren’t usually very well off, although they certainly seem to have more money to play with