‘But we can’t leave him here – can we?’
‘No, we can’t do that. I will inform the magistrate that there is – er – a corpse in the wood. No doubt he will attend to it.’
‘Yes, but I don’t wish to run away, you know,’ Piers objected. ‘It is the most devilish, awkward situation, but of course I don’t dream of leaving you to – to explain it all to the magistrate. I shall have to say that it was I who found the body.’
Sir Richard, who knew that the affair was one of extreme delicacy, and who had been wondering for several minutes in what way it could be handled so as to spare the Brandons as much humiliation as possible, did not feel that the entry of Piers Luttrell into the proceedings would facilitate his task. He cast another of his searching looks over the young man, and said: ‘Your doing so would serve no useful purpose, I believe. You had better leave it to me.’
‘You know something about it!’
‘Yes, I do. I am on terms of – er – considerable intimacy with the Brandons, and I know a good deal about Beverley’s activities. There is likely to be a peculiarly distasteful scandal arising out of this murder.’
Piers nodded. ‘I was afraid of that. You know, sir, he was not at all the thing, and he knew some devilish odd people. A man came up to the house, enquiring for him only yesterday – a seedy sort of bully: I dare say you may be familiar with the type. Beverley did not like it above half, I could see.’
‘Were you privileged to meet this man?’
‘Well, I saw him: I didn’t exchange two words with him. The servant came to tell Beverley that a Captain Trimble had called to see him, and Beverley was so much put out that I – well, I fear I did rather wonder what was in the wind.’
‘Ah!’ said Sir Richard. ‘The fact that you have met Trimble may – or may not – prove useful. Yes, I think you had better go home, and say nothing about this. No doubt the news of Beverley’s death will be conveyed to you tomorrow morning.’
‘But what shall I tell the constable, sir?’
‘Whatever he asks you,’ replied Sir Richard.
‘Shall I say that I found Beverley here, with you?’ asked Piers doubtfully.
‘I hardly think that he will ask you that question.’
‘But will he not wonder how it came about that I did not miss Beverley?’
‘Did you not say that Beverley gave it out that he was retiring to bed? Why should you miss him?’
‘Tomorrow morning?’
‘Yes, I think you might miss him at the breakfast-table,’ conceded Sir Richard.
‘I see. Well, if you feel it to be right, sir, I – I own I would rather not divulge that I was in the wood tonight. But what must I say if I am asked if I know you?’
‘You don’t know me.’
‘N-no. No, I don’t, of course,’ said Piers, apparently cheered by this reflection.
‘That is a pleasure in store for you. I came into this neighbourhood for the purpose of – er – making your acquaintance, but this seems hardly the moment to enter upon a matter which I have reason to suspect may prove extremely complicated.’
‘You came to seeme?’ said Piers, astonished. ‘How can this be?’
‘If,’ said Sir Richard, ‘you will come to see me at the George tomorrow – a very natural action on your part, in view of my discovery of your guest’s corpse – I will tell you just why I came to Queen Charlton in search of you.’
‘I am sure I am honoured – but I cannot conceive what your business with me may be, sir!’
‘That,’ said Sir Richard, ‘does not surprise me nearly as much as my business is likely to surprise you, Mr Luttrell!’
NINE
Having got rid of Piers Luttrell, who, after peering at his watch surreptitiously, and several times looking about him as though in the expectation of seeing someone hiding amongst the trees, went off, rather relieved but much bewildered, Sir Richard walked away to rejoin Pen and the unknown lady. He found only Pen, seated on the bank with an air of aloof virtue, her hands folded primly on her knees. He paused, looking her over with a comprehending eye. ‘And where,’ he asked in conversational tones, ‘is your companion?’
‘She chose to go home,’ responded Pen. ‘I dare say she grew tired of waiting for you to come back.’
‘Ah, no doubt! Did you by any chance, suggest to her that she should do so?’
