What reason were three young men now dead? I returned to the chalkboard.
“The Four Horsemen”
Did the deaths of three young men have something to do with the reason His Highness was abruptly removed from university years before, and then promptly entered the army and was sent to a distant post?
I stared at the chalkboard.
“The sins of the fathers…” I repeated what had been found in that first note that was discovered. “What sins?”
“I did inquire about that, as well,” Brodie commented. “It seems there was a particular incident that occurred and became known to the university. Not the usual sort of college pranks.”
“What sort of incident?”
“According to His Highness, he and his companions were celebrating end of term with others at a local inn near the university. There was a great deal of drink and gambling through the night, as might be expected.”
The usual sort that young men engaged in, according to my great aunt and other stories I had heard before. Yet, what did that have to do with what was happening now? Excesses like the rumored activities at private gentlemen clubs? What motive was that for murder?
Brodie emptied his glass. “His Highness was adamant that he doesna know anything more, but there is worry now for his own son.”
Arrangements had been made to send the Duke of York and his wife from London for his protection, particularly after thedeath of his older brother the year before from influenza, as he would one day succeed Prince Edward as regent.
“The sins of the fathers.”
“Might there be something to be learned at the college they attended?” I commented. “It might be worth a trip there. I would need to find out who Aunt Antonia knows who might be able to provide information in that regard. I’ll inquire in the morning.
“And perhaps there might be something to be learned in speaking with Sir Walsingham,” I added regarding that fourth member of that elite, if notorious, young men’s club.
“Aye, that could be useful.”
We returned to the townhouse even though it was late in the evening.
As Brodie pointed out, after crawling through the hedgerow with Lily, I was in much need of a bath.
The shower compartment that I’d had installed was one of those modern inventions that I thoroughly enjoyed. And it did have other…interesting aspects.
Brodie departed for the office early the next morning. He wanted to learn if the police had made any progress in their investigation into what were now two recent murders, while I wanted to speak with my great aunt.
“Yes, dear, I do know Sir Walsingham, through his wife, of course. Terrible tragedy the accident their son was involved in several months back. She is quite a lovely person, and he was such a bright young man. It must have been devastating for them both.
“The official mourning period is over, and she may be willing to speak with you,” she added. “I will put out a telephone call to her. I presume this has something to do with your present inquiry case?”
Very sly the way she worked in a question about our case. I did not go into details about what we had learned, even though she had been present that night at Marlborough House when it appeared that Sir Huntingdon’s son was tragically murdered. Nor did I explain my adventures through the hedgerow with Lily.
Instead, I hoped that she might know someone associated with Trinity College who could tell us more about that incident that had happened over thirty years before.
“I shall expect you then,” she said after inviting me to join her at Sussex Square.
I called for a cab and quickly dressed.
“Sir Laughton might be able to assist you there,” she replied as I inquired about His Highness’s time at Cambridge over late morning coffee and biscuits.
“He attended law school at Cambridge. That might have been about the same time as the Prince of Wales, as they are very near the same age.”
“Lily was quite excited when she returned yesterday, although she wouldn’t reveal what she had been about with you,” she commented. “I daresay her clothes were in quite a disarray and badly stained.”
She let that dangle, and then, when I did not comment, “Oh, very well, it is obvious that you cannot share matters regarding the situation the other evening at Marlborough House. And the dailies have apparently been ‘requested’ to print nothing about it other than the brief mention of an ‘accident.’
“Accident, my foot!” she exclaimed. Then, when I offered no comment, “Very well, since you will not discuss the matter, I will have to learn the details elsewhere.”
