“Which could imply a lot of anger against—er…the occupants of that house.”
“I would not have thought the neighbors to be the kind of people to indulge in such tricks.”
Flynn shrugged. “Young men, you know, especially in their cups, will go to extraordinary lengths for a perceived joke. They could have been refused entry to the house and borne a grudge. Or it could have been outraged servants or others of lower orders from almost anywhere. The thing is, you and your wife have been away, and the household is not of the type to confide in the police.”
Solomon eyed him. “You are asking me if we know something you do not?”
“It is possible.”
It was. Solomon barely knew the inhabitants of Constance’s establishment, though she trusted them implicitly. “They would have told her.”
“Probably. But perhaps she could make sure.”
“Did you really come here just to ask me that?”
“Not just that. I want to know anything you can tell me about Terrence St. John.”
“I think I already have. We were mere acquaintances.”
“Did you like him? Did other people?”
“Yes, they seemed to. I found him very affable. Surprisingly practical about hospital business.”
Flynn pounced. “In what way?”
“He was more concerned for the physical wellbeing of the patients than their moral deserts.”
“Did you agree with him?”
“Yes. It’s a hospital, not a church.”
“Did the other committee members agree?”
Solomon shrugged. “Some of them. There were a few minor disagreements that were resolved with compromise. There were no quarrels that I ever witnessed that were likely to lead to killing.”
“But St. Peter’s was not his only charity, was it?”
“I honestly don’t know. It’s the only one we have in common, so far as I know.”
“Did you ever run into him in Grosvenor Square?” Flynn asked.
“If you mean at Constance’s house, then no. Would a man visit such an establishment quite so close to home?”
“He might if he used the back door.”
Solomon’s lip twitched. “I see your point, but all guests enter at the front. Safety is the house’s main concern.”
“It may be your wife’s main concern, but would her people not make exceptions? Especially if she was away for several weeks.”
“I would seriously doubt it. These people are too glad to have left such risks behind them.”
Flynn regarded him curiously. Solomon could see the questions in his eyes, but he did not ask them.
“I will look into it,” Solomon said mildly. “Do you have any ideas how he was poisoned?”
“Not yet. We can’t find anything he ate or drank at home that was not shared with his family. We’re trying to trace his movements during the later part of the evening, though we don’t stand much chance of witnesses at four or five in the morning.”
“Is that when he died?” Solomon asked.
