The Case of the Late Pig

'I was down at the Knights this morning when it happened,' he said, not without a certain pride. 'We were playing poker. I'd just netted a queen-pot when I heard the thud and we all rushed out. There was nothing to be done, of course. Have you seen the body?'

'Yes,' I said. 'I haven't examined it yet. Was that the first time you'd seen Harris?'

'Oh, Lord, no! He's been there all the week. I've had to go along there every day to see Flossie Gage, one of the maids. She's had jaundice. I didn't talk to Harris much because — well, none of us did, you know. He was an offensive type. That incident with Bathwick showed you the type he was.'

'Bathwick?'

'Oh, didn't you hear about that?' Kingston warmed to me. Like most country doctors he relished a spot of gossip. 'It had its humorous side in a way. Bathwick is an earnest soul, as you may have noticed.'

I agreed, and he chuckled and hurried on:

'Harris talked about a dance hall and a bathing beach he was going to build on that bit of land which runs down to the creek on the far side of the cricket pitch. Bathwick heard the gossip and was appalled by it. It didn't fit into his own scheme for Kepesake's development, which is more on welfare lines — communal kitchens and superintended crèches, and so on. He rushed down to see Harris in a panic, and I believe there was a grand scene. Harris had a sort of sense of humour and took a delight in teasing old Bathwick, who has none. They were in the lounge at the Knights, and Bill Duchesney and one or two other people were there, so Harris had an audience and let himself go. Bill told me Bathwick went off at last with his eyes bulging. Harris had promised him dancing houris, secret casinos, and God knows what else, until the poor chap saw his dream yokel walking straight out of the church clinic on one side of the road into the jaws of hell on the other. Bill tried to soothe the Vicar, I believe, but he said he was scared out of his wits and shocked to the marrow. You see the sort of fellow Harris was. He liked to show off. There was no need for him to tease old Bathwick, who'd be quite a good chap if he wasn't so solemn. However, that's not the point. The question is, who killed Harris? I'll bring down that solicitor's name, and any papers I can find first thing in the morning, shall I?'

'I wish you would,' I said trying not to sound too eager. 'Thanks for telling me.'

'Not at all. I wish I could be really helpful. It's so seldom anything happens down here.' He laughed awkwardly. 'That's a bit naïve, isn't it?' he murmured. 'But you've no idea how dull the country is for a fairly intelligent man, Campion.'

We went back to the dressing-room. Janet and Bathwick were listening to the wireless, but she got up and switched it off as we appeared, and Bathwick sighed audibly at the sight of me.

Leo looked in after a bit, but he was plainly preoccupied, and he excused himself soon after. Not unnaturally the party broke up early. Kingston went home, taking the reluctant and smouldering cleric with him, and Janet and I wandered out on the terrace. It was warm and moonlit and rather exotic, what with night-scented stocks in the garden below and nightingales in the ilex.

'Albert....' said Janet.

'Yes?'

'You've some very peculiar friends, haven't you?'

'Oh, you meet all kinds of people at school,' I said defensively, my mind still clinging to Peters. 'It's like knowing a lot of eggs. You can't tell which one is going to grow into something definitely offensive.'

She drew a long breath and her eyes glinted in the faint light.

'I didn't know you went to a co-ed,' she said witheringly. 'That accounts for you, I suppose.'

'In a way,' I agreed mildly. 'I remember Miss Marshall. What a topping Head she was, to be sure. Such a real little sport on the hockey field. Such a demon for impositions. Such a regular little whirlwind with the birch.'

'Shut up,' said Janet unreasonably. 'How d'you like Bathwick?'

'A dear fellow,' I said dutifully. 'Where does he live?'

'At the Vicarage, just behind the Knights. Why?'

'Has he a nice garden?'

'Quite good. Why?'

'Does his garden adjoin the Knights garden?'

'The vicarage garden runs up to the chestnut copse at the back of Poppy's place. Why?'

'I like to know a man's background,' I said. 'He's rather keen on you, isn't he?'

She did not answer me, and I fancied she considered the question to be in bad taste. To my astonishment I felt her shiver at my side.

'Albert,' she said in a very small voice, 'do you know who did this beastly murder?'

'No, not yet.'

'You think you'll find out?' She was almost whispering.

'Yes,' I said. 'I'll find out.'

She put her hand in mine. 'Leo's very fond of Poppy,' she murmured.

I held her hand closely. 'Leo has no more idea who killed Harris than a babe unborn,' I said.

She shivered again. 'That makes it worse, doesn't it? It'll be such a dreadful shock for him when he — he has to know.'

'Poppy?' I said.