runabout at the Hall. You're welcome to use it.'
'Would you mention that to Mr Sinclair? I'm sure he'll be happy to accept.'
'Now see here, Madden!' Raikes tried to force himself back into the conversation, but the inspector ignored him and went on speaking to Lord Stratton.
'There's something I need to know. The woods behind the house, do they belong to you?'
'Upton Hanger? Yes, the ridge extends for several miles.' He seemed eager to help. 'I keep a pheasant shoot over by the Hall' — he pointed in the direction of the village — 'but this side the woods run wild.'
'What's your policy on trespassing?'
'Well, technically it's private property. But the villagers have always had the run of the woods. Over on this side, at least.'
'Would you change that, sir? Make it clear no trespassing will be allowed and ask the police to enforce it.'
'I understand.' Stratton frowned. 'Better to keep people away.'
'I was thinking of the London press. They'll be here soon enough.'
'Boyce!' Chief Inspector Norris spoke.
'I'll see to it, sir.'
'One other thing.' Madden drew Lord Stratton aside. 'There's a crowd of villagers outside the gates.
Could you speak to them? Tell them what's happened here. There's no point in keeping it a secret. Then ask them to go home. We'll be questioning them later.
But they're no help to us standing out there blocking the road.'
'Of course. I'll see to that now.' He set off up the drive.
Watching, Billy could only marvel. How did Madden do it? He wasn't a nob himself, that much was certain. There was a rough, unpolished air about the inspector that set him apart from the likes of his lordship. But when he talked, they listened! Even Sir William Whatsit, who could only stand there glowering.
'Chief Inspector,' still ignoring Raikes, Madden turned to Norris, 'could we have a word?'
He moved away, and after a moment's hesitation Norris joined him. The Guildford chief was red in the face and sweating heavily in his thick serge suit.
'I'll need some details, sir.'
'Speak to Boyce.' Norris blinked rapidly. 'Good God, man! You can't treat a lord lieutenant that way.'
Madden regarded him without expression. Norris opened his mouth to speak again, then changed his mind. He spun on his heel and rejoined Raikes, who stood with his back ostentatiously turned to them, glaring up the drive at the retreating figure of Lord Stratton.
Madden nodded to Boyce and led the way out of the forecourt around to the side of the house. When they came into a pool of shade he paused and took out a packet of cigarettes. Billy, encouraged by the sight, lit up himself.
'I was told four in the house.' The inspector was speaking to Boyce.
'That's right.' The Surrey inspector took out a handkerchief. 'Colonel and Mrs Fletcher. One of the maids, Sally Pepper, and the children's nanny, Alice Crookes.'
'Who found the bodies?'
'The other maid, Ellen Brown. We haven't talked to her yet. She's in hospital in Guildford. Under sedation.' He wiped his face. 'Brown returned this morning. Mrs Fletcher had given her the weekend off — Saturday and Sunday — but she was due back last night, and the other maid, Pepper, was to have had today off. Brown missed her train — she's got a young man in Birmingham — and only arrived this morning.
She was seen passing through the village, running from the station, looking to be in trouble with her mistress, I dare say. Half an hour later she was back again, not making much sense by all accounts.'
'Half an hour?' Madden drew on his cigarette.
Boyce shrugged. 'I don't know what she did when she found them. Fainted, I would guess. But she had enough sense to get herself to the local bobby. He lives at this end of the village. Constable Stackpole.
He didn't know what to think — whether to believe her, even. He said she was raving. So he got on his bicycle and pedalled like blazes. He rang Guildford from the Lodge. I was the duty officer and I informed Chief Inspector Norris and he rang the chief constable who decided to call in the Yard right away.'
'When did you get here?'
'Just before midday. Mr Norris and I.'
'You went through the house?'
Boyce nodded. 'We didn't touch anything. Then Sir William arrived with Lord Stratton.'
'Did they go inside?'
'I'm afraid so.'
'Both of them?'
Boyce looked shamefaced. 'Mr Norris tried to stop them, but… Anyway, they didn't stay long. It was getting to be ripe inside. The heat, you know 'Anyone else?'
'Only the doctor.'
'The police surgeon?'
'No, Stackpole couldn't raise him — he lives in Godalming — so he rang the village doctor.'
'What time did he get here?'
'She.' Boyce glanced up from his notebook. 'Her name's Dr Blackwell. Dr Helen Blackwell.'
Madden was frowning.
'Yes, I know.' Boyce shrugged. 'But it couldn't be helped. There was no one else.'
'Was she able to cope?'
'As far as I can tell. Stackpole said she did what was necessary, confirmed they were all dead. It was she who found the little girl.' He consulted his notebook.
'Sophy Fletcher, aged five. Apparently she's a patient of the doctor's.'
'The child was in the house?'
'Hiding under her bed, Stackpole said. She must have been there all night…' Boyce looked away, biting his lip.
Madden waited for a moment. 'You said 'children'.'
'There's a son. James, aged ten. He's been spending a few weeks with his uncle in Scotland. Lucky, I suppose, if you can call it that.'
'Do we know if the girl witnessed the murders?'
Boyce shook his head. 'She hasn't said a word since Dr Blackwell found her. The shock, I imagine.'
'Where is she now?'
'At the doctor's house. It's not far. I sent an officer over there.'
'We must get her into hospital in Guildford.'
Madden killed his cigarette on the sole of his shoe and put the stub in his pocket. Billy, watching, followed suit.
'Any idea of time of death?'
'Dr Blackwell says between eight and ten last night — based on rigor. Couldn't have been before seven.
That's when the cook left. Ann Dunn. She lives in the village. I've had a word with her, but she couldn't tell us much. She fixed them a cold meal, then took herself off. Didn't notice anything unusual. Didn't see anyone hanging about.' Boyce glanced back towards the drive.
'The gates were open. They could have driven in.'
'They?'
'Has to be more than one man.' Boyce looked at him. 'Wait till you see inside. Most likely a gang.
There's stuff been taken. Silver. Jewellery. But why they had to-' He broke off, shaking his head.
'How did they get into the house?'
'They broke in from the garden side. Come on, I'll show you.'
Boyce led the way to the front of the house, out of the shade on to the sun-washed terrace. It was late afternoon, past four o'clock, but the cloudless summer sky held hours of daylight yet. Shallow steps led from the terrace to a lawn bordered by flower-beds with a fishpond in the middle. Further on another set of steps led to a lower level bordered by a shrubbery. Where the garden ended the woods of Upton Hanger began, rising like a green
