that he wanted to convince her that he was entirely so.
“Well,” she said defensively, ‘when it did happen the place was swarming with people . reporters . detectives and such like. Two of them stayed . right under this roof. Making their investigations, they did say. So you do see, we be right on the spot.”
“Very conveniently placed,” put in Lucas.
“Well, I must go and see to things. Mustn’t stop chattering-‘ She went away and I said: ” It was getting interesting. I wanted to hear more.”
“Lookers on often get a distorted vision.”
“At least they are close to the scene.”
Trifle was brought by the maid. It was delicious and well laced with sherry. I was glad that the hostess found it difficult to resist further gossip and while we were finishing the trifle she came up for a little more.
“People don’t come here much,” she confided.
“Well, we get the locals, like … but visitors like yourselves … they don’t come this way much. It was different at the time … you know what happened at Perrivale.”
“Murder is good for business,” said Lucas.
She looked at him warily and I prompted: “You must have known a good deal about the family.”
“Well … being here all my life, could hardly help it, could I then? I was born in this inn. My father had it … and then when I married William he took over. My son another William he’ll do the same one day, I shouldn’t wonder.”
“A dynasty of innkeepers,” murmured Lucas.
I said quickly: “It’s very good to keep it in the family. It gives you a certain pride, doesn’t it?”
She beamed on me. I could see that she was thinking I was nice and normal enough to enjoy a bit of gossip in spite of my companion.
“Do you see much of the Perrivales?” I asked.
“Oh yes, they be always in and out. I can go back years. I remember when that Simon was brought here. That’s the one … you know.”
“Yes,” I said.
“I know.”
“It must have been all of twenty years ago when he came. Me and William was just married. There was a bit of a scene, I can tell ‘ee, when Sir Edward brought him into the house and said he’d be staying there. Well, it stands to reason there’d be fireworks. What woman’s going to stand for that, I ask you?”
“I quite agree,” I said.
“Now why does a man like that bring a strange child into his home?
Everyone said her ladyship was a saint to put up with it. And she wasn’t the sort either. A bit of a tartar by all accounts. But Sir Edward was the sort of man who didn’t say much . but he’d have his own way. He said the boy would stay and stay he did. “
“That was Simon,” I said.
“Well, what can you expect? Can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, they tell you. Nor can you.”
“You mean …”
“Well, where did he come from, I ask you? Some back street somewhere, I shouldn’t wonder.”
“Why should Sir Edward let him live in a back street and then decide to bring him to Perrivale Court?”
“Well, people get things on their consciences, don’t they? Anyways, he came. Treated like one of them, he was. Time came they had a tutor .. that was before they went away to school. A nice fellow, he was. He used to tell some tales about the life up there. Then he faded out and it was school for them. Simon, he went too … just like Cosmo and Tristan. And how did he repay them? He murders Mr. Cosmo. There’s gratitude for you.”
“But can you be sure that he was the one who committed the murder?”
“Plain as the nose on your face. Why else did he run away?”
“It certainly seems conclusive,” said Lucas.
“There could be other reasons,” I protested.
“Oh, a definite sign of guilt,” commented Lucas.
“Yes, he was guilty all right. Jealous, he was. Of course there was that widow woman, Mirabel … She was Mrs. Blanchard then. Now, of course, it’s Lady Perrivale. She came down here with her father … the Major … and a nicer gentleman you could not wish to meet. Her father and that young Kate. There’s a piece of mischief for you, Mrs. Blanchard she was then. Oh, she was a beauty … one of them red-haired ones. You couldn’t help looking twice at her. She set her cap at Mr. Cosmo and we all knew that it wouldn’t be long before she was mistress of Perrivale. Cosmo was mad about her. Tristan liked her too, to say nothing of Simon. There they were, the three of them, all in love, they said, with the same widow woman. And what does Simon do? He lures Cosmo to that old farmhouse Bindon Boys they call it and he just shot him. Through the head, they said. Might have got away with it too, if Mr. Tristan Sir Tristan now hadn’t come in and caught him red-handed.”
“Where is the farmhouse?”
“Oh … just along the coast. It’s still there. A bit of an old ruin. They were going to put it right when this happened After that they just let it slide. Nobody would want to live in a house where there’d been a murder. Well, I’m talking too much. William says I always do.”
“It’s been very interesting.”
“Well,” she said proudly, ‘it’s not every place that’s had a murder committed on its doorstep, you might say. Mind you, it’s not everybody as wants to hear about it. When it happened people didn’t want to talk about anything else. “
My feelings were mixed as we came out of the inn. I was a little depressed by the opinion she had expressed of Simon. Apart from that, I had been excited to talk to someone who had actually lived near him at the time all that happened. I suspected that she had no doubt of his guilt. I was afraid that would be the general verdict. He had damned his case by running away.
As we rode off, Lucas said: “You seemed to enjoy our garrulous hostess. Did you find it so absorbing to gather a little local colour?”
“I did find it interesting.”
“Murder fascinates most people. It is the mystery of this one. Though is it so mysterious?”
“Why? What do you think is the truth?”
“It’s clear enough, isn’t it? He ran away.”
There was nothing I dared say. I wanted to shout out:
He’s innocent. I know he’s innocent. It was hard to stop myself.
I was tired when we reached Trecorn Manor. I had so looked forward to seeing Perrivale Court, but I had discovered nothing and it had been brought home to me what a strong feeling there was against Simon. Of course I had heard only one person’s opinion. But always against him would be the fact that he had run away.
I was having one of my cosy sessions with Nanny Crockett. The twins were having their afternoon nap which, said Nanny Crockett, was good for them. It was Ellen’s free afternoon and she had gone to visit her parents in a nearby village.
I was learning a little about Nanny Crockett’s background. She had come from London to take up her first post in Cornwall.
“It was a bit of a wrench at first,” she said.
“Couldn’t get used to it. Missed all the life. Then you get your little ones and they starts to mean something to you. I got quite caught up with the place, too . the moors and the sea and alt that. You want to have a look at the place while you’re here. It’s worth looking at.” i I was telling her I enjoyed my ride.
“We went a long way Near to a place called Upbridge. Do you know it?”
“Know it!” cried Nanny Crockett.
“I’d say I know UprI bridge. I lived in the place at one time. I was close to itj before that.”
“Did you know Perrivale Court?” She was silent for a moment. There was a strange east, press ion on her face which I did not understand. Then she said: “I should think I do. I lived there for nigh on eight years.”
” You mean . in the house! ”
“I do mean in Perrivale Court, Miss.”
“You really lived there!”
