Spotted Hemlock

morning. They drove to Calladale College, where Dame Beatrice had a conversation with Miss McKay in which she recounted the talk she had had with Coles.

‘Of course, he still doesn’t know that the dead girl was the sister, and not his wife,’ said Miss McKay. ‘Didn’t you think you ought to tell him? He’s got to know, sooner or later, and you would break the news more gently than most people. Is it right to keep from him what will give him almost unbearable relief and pleasure?’

‘At the present stage of the enquiry it would not be at all a good idea to enlighten him,’ said Dame Beatrice, very decidedly.

‘Oh, well, I suppose you know best. The only thing is, where is the wretched Coles girl?’

On the following morning Dame Beatrice went to Garchester police station.

‘He’s staying as my guest,’ said the inspector. ‘We’ve nothing on him, you see, and he seems prepared now to co-operate. He’ll be here at any moment. What have you got to tell us before he comes?’

‘Nothing, but when the interview is over, if we’re not completely satisfied, I want you to witness an experiment.’

‘Not a reconstruction of the crime, madam? I don’t go for that kind of thing very much. Too French, in my opinion, to suit our English ideas.’

‘Not a reconstruction of the crime—by which, I imagine, you mean the murder of Carrie Palliser—but a reconstruction of a crime, yes. That is to say, a reconstruction of what, I suppose, the law would consider was a crime. To my mind, however—but we won’t anticipate.’

‘As Henry V did not say when he tried on his father’s crown,’ suggested Laura. A constable came in at this moment to announce that Mr Basil was at the inspector’s disposal.

Piggy was looking the worse for wear. His heavy face was so pale that it gave the impression that he had not shaved, for the dark hair-roots pigmented the skin on his cheeks and chin. He bowed to Dame Beatrice and seated himself on the chair which the inspector indicated. He placed pudgy, large hands on his knees and leaned back.

‘What is it this time?’ he asked; but his tone indicated weariness, not curiosity and certainly not belligerence.

‘Just another word or two, Mr Basil.’ The inspector was brisk. ‘We’d appreciate a little co-operation on a certain matter.’

‘Yes? Oh, well, fire away.’

‘Where is Mrs Coles?’

Piggy stared at him witn the eyes of a defunct fish. There was a pause.

‘Your guess is as good as mine, Inspector. I haven’t a clue.’

‘She has been seen and recognised here in Garchester, as I have already told you, and that quite recently. Now, Mr Basil, we want Mrs Coles and we want her badly, and we are pretty sure you know where she is.’

‘I don’t, I tell you. I haven’t set eyes on her since we parted in Northern Ireland.’

‘Well, sir, if that’s your story, and you intend to stick to it, I have to warn you that you are placing yourself in a very dangerous position.’

‘That’s as may be. I’ve done nothing against the law.’

‘You failed to report a death, Mr Basil,’ said Dame Beatrice. Piggy shrugged his fleshy shoulders.

‘You can’t prove that,’ he said. ‘In any case, it was not my business to report it.’

‘You admit that you knew of a death which nobody reported?’

‘I admit nothing. My conscience is quite clear. What is the charge you are bringing? My failure to report Whose death?’

‘That of Mrs Coles’ sister, Miss Carrie Palliser.’

‘But why should I report her death? It had nothing to do with me.’

‘I propose to take you up on that last statement, Mr Basil. I will undertake to prove to you that I know it had something to do with you. I will show what it had to do with you, and I will tell you why you acted as you did, and how mistaken you were.’

‘Mistaken? Are you sure?’ Colour came into his face. ‘If you can prove that—or don’t you mean what I think you mean?’

‘I shall leave that question unanswered. It will answer itself in time. Thank you, Inspector. I do not need to stay any longer.’

chapter nineteen

The Grey Mare’s Ghost

‘ …she would rise, lie down, turn, walk, trot or gallop at the command of her leader.’

Ibid.

« ^ »

Now,’ said Dame Beatrice, when she and Laura were at the hotel in Garchester where they had taken rooms, ‘we must hire, beg, borrow, steal or even purchase, a grey horse. A draught animal would be best, as it has to carry