Have His Carcase

‘A lot of these people we can dismiss at once,’ said Lord Peter. ‘Colonel Grimes is a problem — goodness knows what happened to the kit he left in France, but I expect somebody out there got hold of it. The razor may have returned to this country. He’s a possibility. Major Hartley and Colonel Belfridge will have to be traced. I shouldn’t think it would be Sir John Westlock. If he was a careful sort of blighter, he probably took his razors with him and cherished them. We’ll have to inquire about poor Baring. His razor may have been sold or given away. And we might just ask about young Ringwood, though we can probably count him out. Then there’s your head-assistant. Would he be likely to have sold any of them, do you think?’

‘Well, no, my lord; I shouldn’t think he would. He told me that he should keep them for his own use and for use on his own premises. He liked having the old name on them, you see. But for sale to his customers, he would have his razors marked with his own name. That has a certain value, you see, my lord. It’s only if you’re in a good way of business and can order in razors in three-dozen lots that you get

your own name put on them. He started off very well with a new three dozen Kropp blades, for he told me all about it, and, things being equal, those are what he would supply his customers with.’

‘Quite. Any likelihood of his selling the others secondhand?’

‘That,’ said Mr Endicott, ‘I could not say. There isn’t a great deal of business done in second-hand razors, without it’s one of these tramp-hairdressers now and again.’

‘What’s a tramp-hairdresser?’

‘Well, my lord, they’re hairdressers out of a job, and they go about from place to place looking to be taken on as extra hands when there’s a press of work. We didn’t see much of them in our place, of course. They’re not first-class men as a rule, and I wouldn’t have taken it upon me to engage any but a first-class man for my gentlemen. But in a place like Eastbourne, where there’s a big seasonal custom, you would have them round pretty frequently. It might be worth while asking my late assistant. Plumer, his name is, in Belvedere Road. If you like, I will send him a line.’

‘Don’t bother; I’ll run down and see him. Just one other thing. Was any of the customers you’ve mentioned a clumsy handed fellow who took a lot out of his razor and was always sending it back to be re-set?’

Mr Endicott chuckled.

‘Ah! now you’re talking,’ he said. ‘Colonel Belfridge — oh, dear! oh, dear! He, was a terribly hard man on his razors — is still, for all I know. Time and again he’d say to me, “‘Pon my word, Endicott, I don’t know what you do to my razors. They won’t keep their edge a week. Steel isn’t what is was before the War.” But it wasn’t the steel, or the War either. He was always the same. I think he took the edge off with the strop, instead of putting it on; I do indeed. He didn’t keep a man, you know. The Colonel belongs to one of our best families, but not a wealthy man, by any means. A very fine soldier, I believe.’

‘One of the old school, eh?’ said Wimsey. ‘Good-hearted but peppery. I know. Where did you say he was living now?’

‘Stamford,’ replied Mr Endicott, promptly. ‘He sent me a card last Christmas. Very kind of him, I thought it, to remember me. But my old customers are very thoughtful in those ways. They know I value their kind remembrance.

Well, my lord, I am; exceedingly pleased to have seen you,’ he added, as Wimsey rose and took up his hat, ‘and I’m sure I hope I may have been of some assistance to you. You keep very fit, I hope. You’re looking well.’

‘I’m getting old,’ said Lord Peter.; ‘My hair is turning grey over the temples.’

Mr Endicott emitted a concerned cluck.

‘But that’s’ nothing,’ he hastened to assure his visitor. ‘Many ladies think it looks more distinguished that way. Not getting thin on top, I hope and trust.”

‘Not that I know of. Take a look at it’

Mr Endicott pushed the straw-coloured thatch apart and peered earnestly at the roots.

‘No sign of it,’ he pronounced, confidently, ‘Never saw a healthier scalp. At the same time, my lord, if you should notice any slight weakening or falling-off, let me know, I should be proud to advise you. I’ve still got the recipe for Endicott’s Special Tonic, and.though I say so myself, I’ve never’ found anything: to beat it’

Wimsey laughed, and promised to call on Mr Endicott for help at the first symptom of trouble. The old barber saw him to the door, clasping his hand affectionately and begging him to come again. Mrs Endicott would be so sorry to have missed him.