The next day I went to see Lucas. When I knocked at his door it was opened by him. He stood standing there.
“Lucas!” I cried.
“Look at me.” He took a few steps and I could see the difference.
“It’s worked!” I cried.
He nodded, smiling triumphantly.
“Oh, Lucas … it’s wonderful.”
I threw myself at him and he held me close.
“You’ve helped a lot,” he said.
“I?”
“Coming every day. Caring.”
“Of course I came. Of course I cared. Tell me all about it.”
“Well, I’m still something of a poor thing.”
“You don’t look it.”
“This business has worked, they tell me. I’ve got to do exercises and such like. But I’m better. I feel better. I feel lighter. Less like an old hulk.”
“Wonderful! It was all worthwhile.”
“I have to be here for another week or two, while they
put me through my paces. I have to learn to walk again . like a baby. “
I could only smile at him. I felt near to tears. I was so happy because the operation had been a success.
“You’ll be here for a while?”
“Yes. I shall come and see you every day and watch for improvements.”
“There are quite a few needed.”
“But it’s better, Lucas.”
“I shall still be a bit of a cripple. There are things they can’t put right. But they have done a great deal. This man is something of a genius. I think I was a bit of a guinea-pig;
but he’s pleased with me . though not half as pleased as he is with himself. “
“Don’t let’s grudge him his glory, Lucas. I’m so happy …”
“I haven’t felt like this for a long time.”
“I’m glad … so glad.”
On the way out I was waylaid by the surgeon. His delight was obvious.
“Mr. Lorimer was such a good patient,” he said.
“He was determined and that is a great help.”
“We don’t know how to thank you enough.”
“My reward is the success of the operation.”
When I went home and told them, my father said how gratifying it was that modern medical science had advanced so far; Aunt Maud showed her pleasure in a manner which told me she was speculating on the possibility of a match between Lucas and me; but it was in the kitchen that I was able to celebrate with abandon.
Mr. Dolland, wise as ever, leaned his elbows on the table and talked about the wonders of medicine today with far more enthusiasm than my father had done; and Mrs. Harlow sighed romantically, so I knew her thoughts were on the same lines as those of Aunt Maud, but it did not irritate me as Aunt Maud’s speculation had done.
Then Mrs. Harlow told of her cousin’s operation for appendicitis and how she had come near to death under the surgeon’s knife. Mr. Dolland remembered a play in which a man was supposed to be a cripple unable to move from his chair when all the time he could walk with ease and was the murderer.
It was like old times and I was happier than I had been for a long time.
It was not until a day or so later that I told Lucas about my unpleasant experience at the Maternity Home.
“But at least,” I said, “I did find out that Mirabel was going to have a baby before Cosmo was killed and evidently she went to that place for an abortion.”
“What an extraordinary turn of events! What bearing do you think this has on the murder?”
“I can’t think.”
“If it were Cosmo’s child they could let it be thought that it was a premature birth … unless it was too late for that.”
“Sir Edward wouldn’t have approved, of course.”
“But he was on his deathbed.”
“It could have been Tristan’s and when she thought she was going to marry Cosmo she had to do something about it.”
“That seems likely. It’s all very complicated. There is a possibility that you didn’t go to the right place. After all, you only had the address … and verbally at that… from Maria.”
“Well, I’m afraid it hasn’t got us very far. There was something rather sinister about the place and this Mrs. Campden was really very put out when she thought I was making enquiries.”
“Well, I suppose she would be. She thought she had a client.”
“She looked a little alarmed when she thought I might be from the Press.”
“Which suggests she might be in fear of them, as what she is doing is illegal. Listen to me, Rosetta. I suggest you drop this sleuthing.”
“I must find out, Lucas.”
“You don’t know what you’re getting into.”
“But what of Simon?”
“Simon should come home and work out his own problems.”
“How could he? He’d be arrested.”
“I have a feeling that this is becoming more than a little unpleasant for you,” “I don’t mind a bit if it’s unpleasant.”
“Moreover, you could be dealing with dangerous people. After all, it is a murder you are investigating, and if you believe Simon wasn’t the murderer, then someone here probably is. How do you think the guilty person would feel about your probing?”
“That person would not know I am doing it.”
“What about that woman? She didn’t seem to be very pleased. And if she is dealing in abortions … at a good price, I imagine … she could be in trouble.”
“She had a board outside. It was a maternity home. That is legal.”
“It might be a cover. I have a feeling that you ought to stop it… keep out of it.”
“I have to clear Simon.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“All right,” he said.
“But keep me informed.”
“I will do that, Lucas.”
The next day Felicity arrived in London. I was overjoyed to see her.
“I had to come up to see Lucas,” she said.
“And I guessed that you might be here, too. How is he?”
“Coming along very well. The operation was a success. He’ll be delighted to see you, as I am.”
“I came straight from the station,” she went on.
“I thought I’d get the news of Lucas and see you at the same time.”
Aunt Maud came in and greeted Felicity warmly.
“I’ll see that a room is made ready for you right away,” she said.
Felicity replied that she had been thinking of staying at an hotel.
“Nonsense,” said Aunt Maud.
“You must stay here. And if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go and see about it right away.”
Felicity smiled at me.
“Still the efficient Aunt Maud.”
“Oh yes. Mrs. Harlow says the household runs like clockwork.”
