‘Yes, Mother Dorothy. They took down all the details.’
‘We will pray that there is a happy result. Boys do sometimes wander off and think it a great adventure,’ Mother Dorothy said. ‘But these days — the world sometimes seems to me to be regressing into barbarism. Is something else on your mind, Sister Joan?’
‘Yes, Reverend Mother,’ Sister Joan said simply.
‘Yet you hesitate to confide in me. No, don’t jerk your chin at me in that undutiful manner. It is a most eloquent chin but it cannot alter facts. I am well aware that since you came to us last year you have found it difficult to accept me as prioress instead of your former prioress in your mother house. Mother Agnes is a woman of subtle and godly gifts, Sister. If the rest of us find it difficult to live up to her high standards then you must bear with us.’
‘Mother Dorothy, I never meant to imply—’ Sister Joan began, horrified.
‘I was elected as prioress because, I suspect, the community felt that a practical person was required here. This entire convent was tipping over into hysterical nonsense. You helped to bring it to an end for which we owe you gratitude, but it must be sometimes a temptation to wish for more excitement, a cause, a white horse to ride. You do not talk over problems with your superior because you like her personally. You do so as a matter of obedience.’
‘I took action without asking first for permission,’ Sister Joan said.
‘There is an American term, I believe,’ Mother Dorothy said. ‘So tell me something new — that is how it goes. What is your latest misdemeanour, Sister Joan?’
‘When I’d made the report to the police I made a telephone call. I ought to have returned first to the convent and asked for permission, but I didn’t.’
‘Whom did you telephone?’
‘This number. I think it’s a lodging house — in London. The Olives’ au pair was staying there before she came into Cornwall. She left the Olives’ employment suddenly — their little girl, Samantha, told me she disappeared in the middle of the night. I wanted to be sure she was all right — in view of Petroc’s also being missing.’
‘Where did you obtain the telephone number?’
‘From the Agency in town, while Sister Hilaria was in the dentist’s. The woman in the office gave me Kiki Svenson’s home address in Sweden and her London lodging.’
‘You certainly didn’t sit idle while Sister Hilaria was being treated, did you?’ Mother Dorothy said dryly. ‘What was the result of your enquiry?’
‘The landlady said that Kiki Svenson left a couple of months ago, saying she’d be back if she didn’t like it in Cornwall. She paid an extra month’s rent and left a few of her things there. Since then she hasn’t heard a word.’
‘And the Olives’ child told you that the girl had left in the middle of the night?’
‘I suppose either Mr or Mrs Olive could have driven her to the station,’ Sister Joan said, ‘but there aren’t any trains in the middle of the night. Even if there’d been a quarrel of some kind she’d surely have waited until morning.’
‘To a child, nine in the evening can seem like the middle of the night.’
‘Samantha is eleven and very bright, Mother. She didn’t see the girl leave. She told me that she disappeared “just like Petroc Lee” she said.’
‘Because she makes a completely unsubstantial connection between the two events is no reason for us to fall into the same error,’ Mother Dorothy said. ‘However, it does appear to me that the girl seems to have left rather abruptly and her not going to pick up her things is worrying. Did you say anything to the police?’
‘No, Mother Dorothy.’
‘Very wise of you. There is no point in starting rumours when there will probably be a perfectly simple explanation. I shall write express to Miss Svenson’s home address, asking her to contact me if she is at home. No, Sister, there is no use in glancing hopefully towards the telephone. Ringing up Sweden is not allowed for in the community budget. An express letter will serve the purpose. Did you leave a message at the lodging house?’
‘I asked that she ring the convent as soon as she returned, Mother.’
‘Then you seem to have done everything necessary, Sister. You behaved impetuously, but I would not like you to think that obedience completely precludes any independence of thought or action. You visited the Olives with Sister Margaret, did you not? What were your impressions?’
‘They’ve taken the old Druid place, Mother. Julia Olive is very elegant, about my age, rather languid in manner. Her husband, Clive Olive, came in briefly. He is older than her, has a built-up shoe — possibly a club foot. He is writing a book, he said. They were both very pleasant, obviously good parents. Samantha is always nicely dressed and punctual. The au pair brings her to school and picks her up.’
‘Who brings her now?’
‘The new au pair. It — he is a young man, part Dutch, part German. Very beautiful.’
‘Beautiful, Sister Joan?’
‘Sister Hilaria saw him when we went by on our way to the dentist. She remarked that he looked like Lucifer.’
‘One trusts that dear Sister Hilaria was speaking metaphorically,’ Mother Dorothy observed, her eyebrows shooting up. ‘I would not like to think that any of our order had a first-hand knowledge of that gentleman. You didn’t mention the former au pair to anyone else?’
‘No, Reverend Mother.’
‘You obtained the — er trousers for riding?’
‘Oh, yes, Mother. And there’s five pounds change,’ Sister Joan remembered, delving into her purse.
‘Thank you, Sister. Now I suggest
