Pageant of Murder

The Twenty-Third Man

Spotted Hemlock

The Man Who Grew Tomatoes

Say it with Flowers

The Nodding Canaries

My Bones Will Keep

Adders on the Heath

Death of a Delft Blue

LONDON HOUSE & MAXWELL

NEW YORK

FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1965 BY

LONDON HOUSE & MAXWELL

A DIVISION OF THE BRITISH BOOK CENTRE, INC.

122 EAST 55TH STREET, NEW YORK 22, NEW YORK

Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 65-20725

© 1965 by Gladys Mitchell

Set and printed in Great Britain by Tonbridge Printers Ltd,

Peach Hall Works, Tonbridge, Kent, in Times ten on eleven point, on paper made by Henry Bruce at Currie, Midlothian, and bound by James Burn at Esher, Surrey

To my dear Helen Brace, with love, and with many thanks for giving me the special copy of Fred Turner’s book on Brentford

“Tout passe; l’amitie reste”

Author’s Note

All the quotations which follow the chapter headings in this book are taken from History and Antiquities of Brentford by the late Fred Turner, F.R.Hist.S.

CHAPTER ONE

The Special Sub-Committee Meets

“It may therefore serve a useful purpose, if, at this point, we devote a few moments to the consideration of the subject.”

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It having been signified by the Council,” said Councillor Topson, the chairman, “as how we are going to celebrate being made into a borough, it is our duty, being appointed the special sub-committee for arrangements, to seek ways and means to bring the said borough into public notice. The Chair is open to any suggestions.”

“What about a sports-day for the children?”

“Church parade of the Council, with fully-choral service?”

“Plant a tree in the park?”

“A civic dinner at The Hat With Feather?”

“A tea for the old folks?”

“A competition for the best front garden?”

“Open-air dancing in the park, with flood-lighting and a platform for the band?”

“Historical pageant, indicating the development of the town?”

The last suggestion came from a man named Perse. He was the youngest recruit to the Council, and there were those who wished that he had never been voted in.

“Sports day for the children?” said Councillor Topson. “That will be taken care of, anyway. Nothing takes place in this town—soon to be a borough—without a sports day for the children. Have to see about prizes, that’s all. Church parade? Well, naturally, the Mayor will have to be churched. It’s the understood thing, so both them suggestions are in.”

“What about planting a tree in the park?” persisted the woman Councillor who had suggested this. The chairman beamed at her.

“A ruddy good idea, Councillor Mrs Skifforth,” he said. “We could have a Mayor’s Avenue, as time goes on. I have seen such a memorial before. Very effective and nice, and we’ll certainly propose it. But we need something a little more lively and entertaining as well. Now, Councillor Perse, what was your suggestion?”

“Oh, I withdraw it,” said young Mr Perse airily. “It doesn’t seem necessary, if we are to have all the other