My Bones Will Keep

‘On very good terms, I would say. I cannot recall any particular happening or conversation which may have caused me to think so, but the general impression was of two men in harmony. Their relationship was in contrast to the relationship of father and son.’

‘How did you yourself get on with Ossian?’

‘He seemed an agreeable although an eccentric fellow, but I was so much incensed by Bradan’s attitude that I did not stay very long.’

‘Who took you across the loch to the island?’ asked Laura.

‘Who but Bradan himself? He said he liked to scrutinise his guests before he allowed them to land.’

‘Oh, yes, so we heard. Who rowed you back across the loch?’

‘Oh, Corrie.’

‘Did you find him taciturn?’ asked Dame Beatrice.

‘Yes, to some extent. He broke silence to ask me whether I’d got what I had come for, and I told him that I had not, to which he replied that nobody ever did who had dealings with Cu Dubh.’

‘Did he actually call him that?’ asked Laura, interested in this unfeudal appellation.

‘He did, indeed. I thought it an apt description.’

‘Black Dog?’ said Laura. ‘Oh, yes! But Black Dog was in Treasure Island.’

‘Ah, but not on it, said Dame Beatrice, ‘and that, you know, may prove to be a very significant fact – or, of course, of no importance to us whatsoever.’

‘Treasure Island?’ said Stewart. ‘One never knows.’

Chapter 19

The Prodigal Son

‘From here the cold white mist can be discerned.’

Matthew Arnold

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‘WELL!’ said Laura, when she and Dame Beatrice were again alone together. ‘What did you make of that?’

‘I do not think that Mrs Stewart’s son can help us any more than he has done. He told us what he could and it has not got us very much farther.’

‘What business do you think he had with Bradan?’

‘Just what he said. In other words, Mr Bradan’s firm was acting as a kind of carrier’s service. Beyond that, it was not for Stewart’s firm to enquire. I can see that Bradan’s business was perfectly respectable at first, but became illegal later.’

‘I wonder what Stewart’s did when they knew they’d lost the service?’

‘I imagine that the other directors were just as much relieved as Stewart was. Firms with a good reputation do not care to be mixed up with even the mildest of shady transactions, and there must have come a point when Stewart’s became suspicious.’

‘What do we do now?’

‘Well, of course, we might endeavour to contact Mr Bradan’s son.’

‘But he’s in prison.’

‘It might be interesting to hear his story. But, if I mistake not, I hear our dear Robert at the door.’

‘Well, I’m dashed!’ said Laura. Her husband was shown in by Celestine. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Come to eat you, my dear,’ stated Detective Chief-Inspector Robert Gavin, fondly embracing his wife. ‘How is the girl, after all this time?’

‘None the better for seeing you,’ responded his loving spouse. ‘Well, what’s the news?’

‘Very interesting,’ said Gavin. ‘Meanwhile, what’s to eat?’

Celestine, summoned from the kitchen, reported that Monsieur Robert’s wishes had been complied with, and that a steak and kidney pudding would be at Monsieur Robert’s disposal, together with potatoes and greens, in a matter of minutes.

‘Oh, many cheers,’ said Gavin. ‘Just what the doctor ordered.’

‘It is as monsieur ordered,’ retorted Celestine, tossing herself out. ‘Over the telephone today.’

‘I envy you, Dame Beatrice,’ said Gavin. ‘Your household never seems to change, except for my wife, who’s getting fat’ Laura hit him over the head with a folded newspaper.

‘And now, precious idiot, expound. We’ve been told of your exploits. Be precise,’ she said

‘Well, I can’t be terribly precise,’ said Gavin, relapsing into gravity. ‘I don’t think that what we’ve found out will do your case much good, Dame Beatrice, I don’t really believe that the rum-running, or even the arms racket, has