The Toff and the Fallen Angels

is a new one on me. And these all give tuition free?”

“Yes.”

“Do any others?”

“There is a consultant staff of twenty-one.”

“Good lord!” exclaimed Rollison. “You really go for it in a big way. And do all of these know all you’ve told me?”

“Oh, yes,” answered Naomi Smith. “And much more—I’ve confided with them as the trouble has developed. And I know you know Keith Webberson—he suggested that I should get in touch with you. In fact he offered to approach you himself but I thought you might help for his sake and I wanted you to decide on—on the merits of the case as far as I could present them to you. And you really will help?” She seemed only half-convinced.

“I’ve no second thoughts,” Rollison said. “I gather you’ve room for one or two more angels.”

They both smiled.

“Three, in fact—one of them left to get married last week, as well as the two I have mentioned.”

“If I happen to know of a young woman—”

“Oh, no!” cried Naomi Smith. “You haven’t—” Rollison, pouring coffee, found himself spilling it as he spluttered with laughter.

“No, I haven’t qualified a young woman to enter Smith Hall!” he said. “But I have in mind one who is an angel aloft, as it were, and who is pretty bright at Social Science and has a good inquiring mind. By freak of chance, her name is Angela, and if I know Angela, she’ll jump at the chance of joining you. As one of the girls themselves, she might win their confidence.”

“A new girl might, I suppose,” conceded Naomi. “Of course—it’s an excellent idea—my goodness! You believe in acting quickly.”

“But not fast enough,” said Rollison.

“I don’t understand you.”

He covered her hand with his.

“The thought of waiting for another angel to come and settle in and then start investigating casts you down,” he said. “You’re so deeply worried about it that you can’t wait to start. Isn’t that how you feel?”

After another of her pauses, she said slowly : “You really are a man of remarkable perception, Mr. Rollison.”

“Or Richard. Or Rolly—as you prefer. Angela apart, I won’t be idle.”

“You mean you’ve other ideas already?”

“No ideas, but some experience,” answered Rollison. “Have you a list of the names of the residents, their home and backgrounds and history?”

“Yes,” she said at once. “It’s wholly confidential, of course.” She opened her bag again. “I can rely on you keeping it to yourself, can’t I?”

“Yes,” said Rollison. “Unless it reveals crimes which the police have to know about. If it does, I’ll tell you first.”

This time, the envelope she handed to him was much bigger and bulkier. Inside were sheets of thin but glossy surfaced paper, and he drew them out. On the top left hand corner of the first was a photograph of a girl with a wide smile—a brunette with shortish hair and particularly big and attractive eyes. The sheet itself was a copy made from an original typewritten document. There were entries under a variety of headings.

NAME : Elspeth Jones

AGE: 22

SUBJECT: Languages

NEXT OF KIN:              Father (Estranged)

NEXT OF KIN

ADDRESS : 41 Senneker Street, Birmingham, 15.

OTHER RELATIONS: See list attached. MARRIED OR

SINGLE:              Single—(1 child)—father unknown,

Elspeth will not name him.

INCOME : Nil.

There followed a brief case history of Elspeth Jones, who had been disowned by her widowed father when he had been told that she was pregnant. Rollison did not read it all , but skipped to the bottom paragraph, under the heading:

PERSONALITY AND TALENTS A very pleasant and straightforward person with exceptional sense of loyalty. Without bitterness either towards lover or father. Lively, a good sense of fun, a good sense of colour and decor. Wholly trustworthy and likeable with a well developed sense of integrity.

Rollison looked up.

“Do you ever take in young women without being sure they are trustworthy and likeable?” he asked.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Naomi said : “Yes, of course. Smith Hall is not a place where people are prejudged. Some very unusual individuals are quite brilliant —all we do is create the conditions for them to study in their own specialised field. You would hardly complain if a man with a most unpleasant personality helped to find a cure for cancer would you? We have had some very off-putting girls, but as I said, until two months ago they all got along very well. Newcomers sometimes take some time to settle in, and are not always accepted quickly—