‘How many sisters are there here?’ he asked.
‘Apart from myself there are eight fully professed sisters, one who has not yet made her final profession, a lay sister and two postulants.’
‘Their names?’ The pen was poised again.
‘Sister David is our librarian. She is in her mid-thirties, small and short-sighted; she acts also as my secretary. She also translates manuscripts from the Latin as her contribution to the finances of the community. Each of our houses is self-supporting.’
‘And Sister Joan here?’ He nodded in her direction.
‘I joined this community last year,’ Sister Joan said. ‘I’m thirty-six and I teach at the small school on the moors.’
‘Sister Perpetua is the infirmarian,’ the Prioress continued. ‘Mid-forties. She has no external work since much of her time is occupied with caring for our two oldest members of the community. Sister Mary Concepta is in her late seventies and crippled with rheumatism, Sister Gabrielle in her eighties. They sleep down in the infirmary.’
‘Retired.’
‘On the contrary we all benefit from their wisdom and advice. Nuns, unlike police officers, never retire.’
‘And the others?’ He ignored the gibe.
‘Sister Martha is in her thirties. She takes care of the garden and sells what produce we ourselves don’t eat. Sister Katherine is in her late twenties. She deals with the linen and earns her living by embroidering copes and altar cloths and the like. Sister Hilaria is in her early forties and our novice mistress.’
‘You said there was one who hadn’t taken her vows.’
‘Sister Teresa has taken her temporary vows. Provided the community agrees she will make her final profession — vows for life — next year. She is in her early twenties and makes herself useful where she is required.’
‘I know Sister Margaret,’ the other officer volunteered, speaking for the first time. ‘Lovely lady but drives like a bat out of hell — pardon me, Sisters.’
‘Sister Margaret,’ said Mother Dorothy, acknowledging the apology with a slight inclination of the head, ‘is our link with the outside world. She attends to the housekeeping and does the shopping. You must understand that we are semi-enclosed, entering the world only when our work or circumstances render it absolutely essential.’
‘You said that you had two — postulants?’
‘Sister Elizabeth and Sister Marie — both in their twenties. They have taken vows for two years, the first of which is spent in strict seclusion largely in the novices’ quarters which are in the cottage behind the old tennis court. They come to the main building only for prayer and instruction. After a year they will move into the main building as Sister Teresa has done.’
‘It sounds very structured.’ He gave her an approving smile.
‘Yes, it is. A life strictly regulated so that the spirit might be free.’
‘If you’ll excuse me, Sisters?’ The other officer received a glance from Detective Sergeant Mill and rose. ‘I’ll go and check on how things are progressing in the chapel.’
As he went out Sister Joan exclaimed, ‘Mother Dorothy, someone will have to inform Padraic Lee! He’s the child’s uncle.’
‘That’s being attended to, Sister. He’ll be wanted for the formal identification. I understand he’s been looking for the lad himself.’
‘They will all have been looking,’ Sister Joan said. ‘The Romanies care for their children.’
‘As do all decent folk.’ He looked suddenly more tired, more careworn. ‘I’ve two boys of my own so I know how — excuse me.’
A raincoated man had come to the half open door and he went over to him, pulling the door close behind him, his conversation inaudible.
‘Am I to open the school tomorrow, Mother Dorothy?’ Sister Joan asked.
‘I think it would be the best course of action, Sister.’
‘What about Kiki Svenson?’ She lowered her voice to a whisper.
Mother Dorothy frowned consideringly. ‘For the moment it would be better to say nothing on that score,’ she murmured back. ‘It would be very irresponsible of us to direct attention to something that may have no relevance to what has happened. However, in view of the changed circumstances, I will telephone Sweden instead of writing. I believe the expense will be justified. Certainly I shall pray that our minds be set at rest in this matter at least.’ She broke off as Detective Sergeant Mill came into the parlour again.
‘We’ve finished with the chapel and the rest of that wing, Mother. There’s an ambulance on the way.’
‘Are you permitted to tell us anything?’ Mother Dorothy asked.
‘The doctor’s made only a quick preliminary examination. The boy’s been dead for about twenty-four hours — hard to be specific. Cause of death isn’t clear yet — doctor says he would bet it was an overdose of something, but the contents of the stomach will have to be analysed before he can be certain. Oh, one other thing, the lad wasn’t interfered with, if you know what I mean.’
‘I am relieved to hear it,’ the Prioress said. ‘If it was as an overdose then could accident be a possible solution?’
‘Except that someone carried him into your chapel and laid him out neatly. Accident seems unlikely unless — but I’m delaying you, Sisters.’
‘I have already said that we are at your disposal,’ Mother Dorothy reminded him.
‘Very kind of you, Mother Dorothy. We shall be back in the morning to take any statements necessary from the sisters. I don’t want to alarm them.’
‘I very much doubt if anyone in the community will be able to provide you with any useful information, Sergeant, but I will ask the sisters to provide detailed written accounts of their movements during the last twenty-four hours, if that will help.’
‘It will indeed, Mother Dorothy. Thank you.’
‘I shall be going over to the school to teach tomorrow — as usual?’ Sister Joan glanced at him.
‘Just
