Have His Carcase

Not only had he this satisfactory past and present to contemplate; he anticipated an interesting day. Harriet had consented to walk with him that afternoon from the Flat-Iron to Darley in search of clues. Low-water being billed to take place at 4.45, they had arranged to drive out to the Flat-Iron, arriving there at 3.30. After a little light refresh merit, the expedition would set out, searching conscientiously for whatever the shore might, have to show them, while Bunter brought the car back by the road to Hinks’s Lane; after which all three would return to their base at Wilvercombe in their original formation. It was all very clear, except that Harriet did not see — and said as much — what clues were likely to remain on the open shore after nearly a week of exceptionally high tides. She admitted, however, that she needed exercise and that walking was better exercise than most.

And — most immediate of pleasant things to look forward to — Harriet had further agreed to receive Lord Peter Wimsey after breakfast at the Resplendent, for a conference. It was necessary, in Wimsey’s opinion, that the progress made so far should be tabulated and brought into some sort of order. Ten o’clock was the hour fixed for this meeting, and Wimsey was lingering lovingly over his bacon and eggs, so as to leave no restless and unfilled moment in his morning. By which it may be seen that his lordship had reached that time of life when a man can extract an Epicurean enjoyment even from his own passions — the halcyon period between the self-tormenting exuberance of youth and the fretful carpe diem of approaching senility.

The great wind had fallen at last. It had rained a little during the night, but now the sky was fair again, with only the gentlest of breezes ruffling the blue expanse of sea that was visible from the Bellevue’s dining-room windows. Inspector Umpelty had been out with his helpers to explore the Grinders at “four o’clock that morning, and had just looked in on Wimsey to say that they had found nothing yet.

‘And why it hasn’t come ashore somewhere before this, I don’t know,’ he grumbled. ‘We’ve had a look-out kept all along the coast from Fishy Ness right up to Seahampton and on both sides of the estuary. Must have got hooked up with something. If we don’t get it within another week, we’ll have to give it up. Can’t waste public money fishing for drowned dagoes. The ratepayers grumble enough as it is, and we can’t keep the witnesses hanging round here for ever. Well, so long. We shall have another shot at low tide.’

At ten o’clock Wimsey and his collaborator sat down before a neat pile of scribbling paper. Harriet was inclined to be brief and businesslike.

‘What system are we going to adopt about this? Do you favour the Michael Finsbury method by double entry as in The Wrong Box? Or one of those charts made out in columns, with headings for “Suspect”, “Alibi”, “Witnesses”, “Motive” and so on, worked out in percentages?’

‘Oh, don’t let’s have anything that means ruling a lot of lines and doing arithmetic. Let’s behave like your Robert Templeton, and make a schedule of Things to be Noted and Things to be Done. That only means two columns.’

‘Very well, I’m glad you approve of it. I always make Templeton start with the corpse?

‘Right. Here goes—’

PAUL ALEXIS (GOLDSCHMIDT)

Things to be Noted

1. Russian by birth; English by adoption, partly American by education, Early, history unknown, but claimed to be, War refugee of noble descent.

Things to be Done

2. Investigate origin (N.B., The only people who knew, much about him are dead, and any way, this is a, job for the police. And does it really matter? Probably not, unless Mrs Weldon’s bolshevik theory is correct.)

Things to be Noted

1. Personal characteristics: Said to be delicate arthritis?); good dancer; vain of his appearance;

wore beard on account of tendency to pimples; careful of his dress, but — flamboyant in taste.

Said to be romantic and emotional.

2. Had he the temperament to commit suicide? Find out if possible from colleagues and/or his mistress

Things to be Noted

3. In February last, engaged himself To marry Mrs Weldon, a rich widow Apparently desirous to secure himself against loss of profession consequent on increasing ill health.

Not anxious to push on marriageon account of opposition put forward by widow’s son (or possibly on account of personal reluctance). Marriage fixed for fortnight or so after time of P.A.’s death.

Things to be Done

3. Find out if Alexis really took any steps about the marriage at all

Things to be Noted

4. Poor, but not mercenary or dishonest, since he refused to soak Mrs W. Had balance of £320,which he changed into gold about three weeks ago. (N. B. He was only able

to do so as result of curious accident. Can we say it was essential to any scheme he had

in mind?)

Things to be Done