[Mrs Bradley 50] - Late, Late in the Evening

but, of course, this was out of the question. He then stated that he possessed a powerful torch and was sent upstairs to fetch it and be prepared to lend it to Doctor Tassall. This he did and, as a reward, was told by his father that he might stay up for a while, which he elected to do. As soon as they had gone, he put on the fearsome fancy dress which he had commandeered when the costumes arrived. It was that of an iguanadon, or so he informed me.

He then settled down and gave me a lecture on prehistoric animals, which passed the time until we received further news. I was glad of the child's company, for I had a premonition that something very serious had happened. At last my son-in-law presented himself and looked taken aback at the sight of his young son. He sent him straight back to bed and seemed angry with him. I could see that something else was the matter, and I looked anxiously at Harlow, who, after all, had given permission for Lionel to stay up.

'Has she hurt herself?' I asked, when the child had gone.

'Yes, badly, I'm afraid. I came on ahead to tell you. The doctor and Nigel are bringing her in.'

'How bad is it?' I asked.

'Worse than bad,' said Harlow. 'We're in for trouble, mater. The poor girl has copped it.'

'Do you mean-you don't mean-rape?' I asked, my thoughts flying in horror to the gypsy encampment on Lye Hill, although previously I had dismissed such an idea.

'That remains to be discovered,' said Harlow grimly. 'Take hold on yourself, mater. The primary fact we have to face is that the poor kid is dead.'

'Dead?' I said, in stupid repetition of the unbelievable word.

He nodded. 'I'd better go back and help them along with her,' he said. 'I thought you ought to know, though, before they bring her into the house. Will you ring the police?'

'The police?' I echoed, stupidly again.

'Yes, of course. We mustn't delay. Ring them at once.'

'But what shall I tell them?'

'That we have to report the finding of a girl's body near the sheepwash at the foot of Lye Hill. Just tell them that. All further information can wait until they arrive.' He went off and I did as he suggested. The police asked on the telephone whether we knew the girl's identity. I replied that we did, and was told that they would be along immediately and that nothing was to be touched. I indicated that this was nonsense and that the body, as the girl was a guest of mine, would be brought to the house, but the policeman at the other end, having given his orders, had rung off.

I sat and waited. At the end of about an hour Harlow returned. I told him what the police had said. He nodded.

'Just as well we had young Tassall with us,' he said. 'Told us the very same thing. He and Nigel are standing by.'

'But, surely, in a case of accidental death...'

'Accidental nothing, mater.'

'What on earth do you mean?' I felt myself beginning to tremble and my head to swim.

'Tassall thinks she's been attacked.'

'Not-oh, no! No!' I cried.

'Steady on, mater. We've got to face facts.'

'But if she's been attacked-and is dead-'

'That's it,' he said. 'Murder. Not very nice for us, is it? What on earth possessed her to leave the drive and go right down Lovers' Lane at such an hour? We shall never know, I suppose, but there it is. Sit down, mater. I'll get you a drop of brandy.'

Well, Mrs Bradley, the poor child's body was never brought to the house. The police, when they had made their preliminary investigation, had it taken to the mortuary in the town and as I had the girl's home address and telephone number (since it was I, as hostess, who had issued the invitations to the birthday party, although the original invitation had been sent to the girl's brother) I was able to get in touch with the relatives.

I do not think I closed my eyes that night or, rather, early morning, and later in the morning, of course, the police came again. They wanted the names and addresses of everybody who had been present at the party. They were very polite, but very inquisitive.

What kind of party? List of guests? Drinks? Drugs? Quarrels? Rivalries? Jealousies?

Really, Mrs Bradley, you cannot imagine!

It was not that kind of party, I assured them. The young people had been dancing and playing at charades and the girl in question, Merle Patterson, had said she was going out for a breath of air. Others did the same, but nobody else went further than the terrace.

Was I sure of that?

No, not to be able to swear to it, but so I had been informed.

Had the girl come with a male escort?

No. She had been one of a party of four, all old girls of my grand-daughter's previous school.

And so on and so forth. Everybody in the house was questioned, and this included the servants. Just as the inspector had released me from his mesmerism-for, indeed, I was quite bemused by this lengthy interrogation-my butler informed me that Mrs Landgrave from the village was asking to speak to me.

'Oh, send her away,' I said. 'She must come at some more convenient time. I can't see her now. Ask her to leave a message if it's anything to do with Mr Ward.'

Well, it was! Ward had not returned to his lodgings for the past two nights and Mrs Landgrave thought I ought to be told.

One dreadful detail has been brought to our notice. The police believe they