I paused - and then said: "All these people who have died - tidily - in their beds, of this, that and the other - were there people who profited by their deaths?" and the other - were there people who profited by their deaths?"

"Someone always profits by a death - in greater or lesser degree. There were no notably suspicious circumstances, if that is what you There were no notably suspicious circumstances, if that is what you mean?" mean?"

"It isn't quite."

"Lady Hesketh-Dubois, as you probably know, left about fifty thousand net. A niece and a nephew inherit. Nephew lives in thousand net. A niece and a nephew inherit. Nephew lives in Canada. Niece is married and lives in North of England. Both could Canada. Niece is married and lives in North of England. Both could do with the money. Thomasina Tuckerton was left a very large do with the money. Thomasina Tuckerton was left a very large fortune by her father. If she died unmarried before the age of fortune by her father. If she died unmarried before the age of twenty-one, it reverts to her stepmother. Stepmother seems quite a twenty-one, it reverts to her stepmother. Stepmother seems quite a blameless creature. Then there's your Mrs Delafontaine - money left blameless creature. Then there's your Mrs Delafontaine - money left to a cousin -" to a cousin -"

"Ah yes. And the cousin?"

"In Kenya with her husband."

"All splendidly absent," I commented.

Corrigan threw me an annoyed glance.

"Of the three Sandfords who've kicked the bucket, one left a wife much younger than himself who has married again - rather quickly. much younger than himself who has married again - rather quickly. Deceased Sandford was an R.C. and wouldn't have given her a Deceased Sandford was an R.C. and wouldn't have given her a divorce. A fellow called Sidney Harmondsworth who died of divorce. A fellow called Sidney Harmondsworth who died of cerebral hemorrhage was suspected at the Yard of augmenting his cerebral hemorrhage was suspected at the Yard of augmenting his income by discreet blackmail. Several people in high places must income by discreet blackmail. Several people in high places must be greatly relieved that he is no more." be greatly relieved that he is no more."

"What you're saying in effect is - that all these deaths were convenient deaths. What about Corrigan?" convenient deaths. What about Corrigan?"

Corrigan grinned.

"Corrigan is a common name. Quite a lot of Corrigans have died - but not to the particular advantage of anyone in particular so far as but not to the particular advantage of anyone in particular so far as we can learn." we can learn."

"That settles it. You're the next prospective victim. Take good care of yourself." of yourself."

"I will. And don't think that your Witch of Endor is going to strike me down with a duodenal ulcer, or Spanish flu. Not a case-hardened down with a duodenal ulcer, or Spanish flu. Not a case-hardened doctor!" doctor!"

"Listen, Jim. I want to investigate this claim of Thyrza Grey's. Will you help me?" you help me?"

"No, I won't! I can't understand a clever educated fellow like you being taken in by such balderdash." being taken in by such balderdash."

I sighed.

"Can't you use another word? I'm tired of that one."

"Poppycock, if you like it better."

"I don't much."

"Obstinate fellow, aren't you, Mark?"

"As I see it," I said, "somebody has to be!"

Chapter 10.

Glendower Close was very very new. It swept round in an uneven semicircle and at its lower end the builders were still at work. semicircle and at its lower end the builders were still at work. About halfway along its length was a gate inscribed with the name About halfway along its length was a gate inscribed with the name of Everest. of Everest.

Visible, bent over the garden border, planting bulbs, was a rounded back which Inspector Lejeune recognized without difficulty as that back which Inspector Lejeune recognized without difficulty as that of Mr Zachariah Osborne. He opened the gate and passed inside. of Mr Zachariah Osborne. He opened the gate and passed inside. Mr Osborne rose from his stooping position and turned to see who Mr Osborne rose from his stooping position and turned to see who had entered his domain. On recognizing his visitor, an additional had entered his domain. On recognizing his visitor, an additional flush of pleasure rose to his already flushed face. Mr Osborne in the flush of pleasure rose to his already flushed face. Mr Osborne in the country was looking very much the same as Mr Osborne in his shop country was looking very much the same as Mr Osborne in his shop in London. He wore stout country shoes and was in his shirt in London. He wore stout country shoes and was in his shirt sleeves, but even this deshabille detracted little from the dapper sleeves, but even this deshabille detracted little from the dapper neatness of his appearance. A fine dew of perspiration showed on neatness of his appearance. A fine dew of perspiration showed on the shining baldness on his domed head. This he carefully wiped the shining baldness on his domed head. This he carefully wiped with a pocket handkerchief before advancing to meet his visitor. with a pocket handkerchief before advancing to meet his visitor.

"Inspector Lejeune!" he exclaimed pleasurably. "I take this as an honour. I do indeed, sir. I received your acknowledgment of my honour. I do indeed, sir. I received your acknowledgment of my letter, but I never hoped to see you in person. Welcome to my little letter, but I never hoped to see you in person. Welcome to my little abode. Welcome to Everest. The name surprises you perhaps? I abode. Welcome to Everest. The name surprises you perhaps? I have always been deeply interested in the Himalayas. I followed have always been deeply interested in the Himalayas. I followed every detail of the Everest expedition. What a triumph for our every detail of the Everest expedition. What a triumph for our country. Sir Edmund Hillary! What a man! What endurance! As one country. Sir Edmund Hillary! What a man! What endurance! As one who has never had to suffer any personal discomfort, I do who has never had to suffer any personal discomfort, I do appreciate the courage of those who go forth to scale unconquered appreciate the courage of those who go forth to scale unconquered mountains or sail through ice-bound seas to discover the secrets of mountains or sail through ice-bound seas to discover the secrets of the Pole. But come inside and partake, I beg of you, of some simple the Pole. But come inside and partake, I beg of you, of some simple refreshment." refreshment."

Leading the way, Mr Osborne ushered Lejeune into the small bungalow which was the acme of neatness, though rather sparsely bungalow which was the acme of neatness, though rather sparsely furnished. furnished.

"Not quite settled yet," explained Mr Osborne. "I attend local sales whenever possible. There is good stuff to be picked up that way, at whenever possible. There is good stuff to be picked up that way, at a quarter of the cost one would have to pay in a shop. Now what a quarter of the cost one would have to pay in a shop. Now what can I offer you? A glass of sherry? Beer? A cup of tea? I could have can I offer you? A glass of sherry? Beer? A cup of tea? I could have the kettle on in a jiffy?" the kettle on in a jiffy?"

Lejeune expressed a preference for beer.

"Here we are, then," said Mr Osborne, returning a moment later with two brimming pewter tankards. with two brimming pewter tankards.

"We will sit and take our rest. Everest. Ha ha! The name of my house has a double meaning. I am always fond of a little joke." house has a double meaning. I am always fond of a little joke."

These social amenities satisfied, Mr Osborne leaned forward hopefully. hopefully.

"My information was of service to you?"

Lejeune softened the blow as much as possible.

"Not as much as we hoped, I am afraid."

"Ah, I confess I am disappointed. Though, really, there is, I realise, no reason to suppose that a gentleman proceeding in the same no reason to suppose that a gentleman proceeding in the same direction as Father Gorman should necessarily be his murderer. direction as Father Gorman should necessarily be his murderer. That was really too much to hope for. And this Mr Venables is well- That was really too much to hope for. And this Mr Venables is well- to-do and much respected locally, I understand, moving in the best to-do and much respected locally, I understand, moving in the best social circles." social circles."

"The point is," said Lejeune, "that it could not have been Mr Venables that you saw on that particular evening." Venables that you saw on that particular evening."

Mr Osborne sat up sharply.

"Oh, but it was. I have absolutely no doubt in my own mind. I am never mistaken about a face." never mistaken about a face."

"I'm afraid you must have been this time," said Lejeune gently. "You see, Mr Venables is a victim of polio. For over three years he has see, Mr Venables is a victim of polio. For over three years he has been paralyzed from the waist down, and is unable to use his legs." been paralyzed from the waist down, and is unable to use his legs."

"Polio!" ejaculated Mr Osborne. "Oh dear, dear... that does seem to settle the matter. And yet - You'll excuse me, Inspector Lejeune. I settle the matter. And yet - You'll excuse me, Inspector Lejeune. I hope you won't take offence. But that really is so? I mean you have hope you won't take offence. But that really is so? I mean you have definite medical evidence as to that?" definite medical evidence as to that?"

"Yes, Mr Osborne. We have. Mr Venables is a patient of Sir William Dugdale of Harley Street, a most eminent member of the medical Dugdale of Harley Street, a most eminent member of the medical profession." profession."

"Of course, of course. F.R.C.P. A very well-known name! Oh dear, I seem to have fallen down badly. I was so very sure. And to trouble seem to have fallen down badly. I was so very sure. And to trouble you for nothing." you for nothing."

"You mustn't take it like that," said Lejeune quickly. "Your information is still very valuable. It is clear that the man you saw information is still very valuable. It is clear that the man you saw must bear a very close resemblance to Mr Venables - and since Mr must bear a very close resemblance to Mr Venables - and since Mr Venables is a man of distinctly unusual appearance, that is Venables is a man of distinctly unusual appearance, that is extremely valuable knowledge to have. There cannot be many extremely valuable knowledge to have. There cannot be many persons answering to that description." persons answering to that description."

"True, true." Mr Osborne cheered up a little. "A man of the criminal classes resembling Mr Venables in appearance. There certainly classes resembling Mr Venables in appearance. There certainly cannot be many such. In the files at Scotland Yard -" cannot be many such. In the files at Scotland Yard -"

He looked hopefully at the inspector.

"It may not be quite so simple as that," said Lejeune slowly. "The man may not have a record. And in any case, as you said just now, man may not have a record. And in any case, as you said just now, there is as yet no reason to assume that this particular man had there is as yet no reason to assume that this particular man had anything to do with the attack on Father Gorman." anything to do with the attack on Father Gorman."

Mr Osborne looked depressed again.

"You must forgive me. Wishful thinking. I am afraid, on my part... I should so like to have been able to give evidence at a murder trial... should so like to have been able to give evidence at a murder trial... and they would not have been able to shake me, I assure you of and they would not have been able to shake me, I assure you of that. Oh no, I should have stuck to my guns!" that. Oh no, I should have stuck to my guns!"

Lejeune was silent, considering his host thoughtfully. Mr Osborne responded to the silent scrutiny. responded to the silent scrutiny.

"Yes?"

"Mr Osborne, why would you have stuck to your guns, as you put it?" it?"

Mr Osborne looked astonished.

"Because I am so certain - oh - oh yes, I see what you mean. The man was not the man. So I have no business to feel certain. And yet man was not the man. So I have no business to feel certain. And yet I do." I do."

Lejeune leaned forward. "You may have wondered why I have come to see you today. Having received medical evidence that the man to see you today. Having received medical evidence that the man seen by you could not have been Mr Venables, why am I here?" seen by you could not have been Mr Venables, why am I here?"

"Quite. Quite. Well, then, Inspector Lejeune, why did you come?"

"I came," said Lejeune, "because the very positiveness of your identification impressed me. I wanted to know on what grounds identification impressed me. I wanted to know on what grounds your certainty was based. It was a foggy night, remember. I have your certainty was based. It was a foggy night, remember. I have been to your shop. I have stood where you stood in your doorway been to your shop. I have stood where you stood in your doorway and looked across the street. On a foggy night it seemed to me that and looked across the street. On a foggy night it seemed to me that a figure at that distance would be very insubstantial, that it would a figure at that distance would be very insubstantial, that it would be almost impossible to distinguish features clearly." be almost impossible to distinguish features clearly."

"Up to a point, of course, you are quite right. Fog was setting in. But it came, if you understand me, in patches. It cleared for a short it came, if you understand me, in patches. It cleared for a short space every now and then. It did so at the moment that I saw Father space every now and then. It did so at the moment that I saw Father Gorman walking fast along the opposite pavement. That is why I Gorman walking fast along the opposite pavement. That is why I saw him and the man who followed shortly after him so clearly. saw him and the man who followed shortly after him so clearly. Moreover, just when the second man was abreast of me, he flicked Moreover, just when the second man was abreast of me, he flicked on a lighter to relight his cigarette. His profile at that moment was on a lighter to relight his cigarette. His profile at that moment was very clear - the nose, the chin, the pronounced Adam's apple. very clear - the nose, the chin, the pronounced Adam's apple. That's a striking-looking man, I thought. I've never seen him about That's a striking-looking man, I thought. I've never seen him about before. If he'd ever been into my shop I'd have remembered him, I before. If he'd ever been into my shop I'd have remembered him, I thought. So, you see -" thought. So, you see -"

Mr Osborne broke off.

"Yes, I see," said Lejeune thoughtfully.

"A brother," suggested Mr Osborne hopefully. "A twin brother, perhaps? Now that would be a solution." perhaps? Now that would be a solution."

"The identical twin solution?" Lejeune smiled and shook his head.

"So very convenient in fiction. But in real life," he shook his head, "it doesn't happen, you know. It really doesn't happen."

"No... no, I suppose not. But possibly an ordinary brother. A close family resemblance -" Mr Osborne looked wistful. family resemblance -" Mr Osborne looked wistful.

"As far as we can ascertain," Lejeune spoke carefully, "Mr Venables has not got a brother." Venables has not got a brother."

"As far as you can ascertain?" Mr Osborne repeated the words.

"Though of British nationality, he was born abroad, his parents only brought him to England when he was eleven years old." brought him to England when he was eleven years old."

"You don't know very much about him really, then? About his family, I mean?" I mean?"

"No," said Lejeune, thoughtfully. "It isn't easy to find out very much about Mr Venables - without, that is to say, going and asking him, about Mr Venables - without, that is to say, going and asking him, and we've no grounds for doing that." and we've no grounds for doing that."

He spoke deliberately. There were ways of finding out things without going and asking, but he had no intention of telling Mr without going and asking, but he had no intention of telling Mr Osborne so. Osborne so.

"So if it wasn't for the medical evidence," he said getting to his feet, "you'd be sure about the identification?"

"Oh yes," said Mr Osborne following suit. "It's quite a hobby of mine, you know, memorizing faces." He chuckled. "Many a mine, you know, memorizing faces." He chuckled. "Many a customer I've surprised that way. 'How's the asthma?' I'd say to customer I've surprised that way. 'How's the asthma?' I'd say to someone, and she'd look quite surprised. 'You came in last March,' someone, and she'd look quite surprised. 'You came in last March,'

I'd say, 'with a prescription. One of Dr Hargreaves's.' And wouldn't she look surprised! Did me a lot of good in business. It pleases she look surprised! Did me a lot of good in business. It pleases people to be remembered, though I wasn't as good with names as people to be remembered, though I wasn't as good with names as with faces. I started making a hobby of the thing quite young. If with faces. I started making a hobby of the thing quite young. If Royalty can do it, I used to say to myself, you can do it, Zachariah Royalty can do it, I used to say to myself, you can do it, Zachariah Osborne! After a while it becomes automatic. You hardly have to Osborne! After a while it becomes automatic. You hardly have to make an effort." make an effort."

Lejeune sighed.

"I'd like to have a witness like you in the box," he said.

"Identification is always a tricky business. Most people can't tell you anything at all. They'll say things like: 'Oh, tallish, I think. Fair you anything at all. They'll say things like: 'Oh, tallish, I think. Fair haired - well, not very fair, sort of middling. Ordinary sort of face. haired - well, not very fair, sort of middling. Ordinary sort of face. Eyes blue - or grey - or perhaps brown. Grey mackintosh - or it may Eyes blue - or grey - or perhaps brown. Grey mackintosh - or it may have been dark blue.'" have been dark blue.'"

Mr Osborne laughed.

"Not much good to you, that sort of thing."

"Frankly, a witness like you would be a godsend!"

Mr Osborne looked pleased.

"It's a gift," he said modestly. "But mind you, I've cultivated my gift. You know the game they play at children's parties - a lot of objects You know the game they play at children's parties - a lot of objects brought in on a tray and a few minutes given to memorize them. I brought in on a tray and a few minutes given to memorize them. I can score a hundred percent every time. Quite surprises people. can score a hundred percent every time. Quite surprises people. How wonderful, they say. It's not wonderful. It's a knack. Comes How wonderful, they say. It's not wonderful. It's a knack. Comes with practice." He chuckled. "I'm not a bad conjurer either. I do a with practice." He chuckled. "I'm not a bad conjurer either. I do a bit to amuse the kiddies at Christmas time. Excuse me, Mr Lejeune, bit to amuse the kiddies at Christmas time. Excuse me, Mr Lejeune, what have you got in your breast pocket?" what have you got in your breast pocket?"

He leaned forward and extracted a small ashtray.

"Tut, tut, sir, and you in the police force!"

He laughed heartily and Lejeune laughed with him. Then Mr Osborne sighed. Osborne sighed.

"It's a nice little place I've got here, sir. The neighbours seem pleasant and friendly. It's the life I've been looking forward to for pleasant and friendly. It's the life I've been looking forward to for years, but I'll admit to you, Mr Lejeune, that I miss the interest of my years, but I'll admit to you, Mr Lejeune, that I miss the interest of my own business. Always someone coming in and out. Types, you own business. Always someone coming in and out. Types, you know, lots of types to study. I've looked forward to having my little know, lots of types to study. I've looked forward to having my little bit of garden, and I've got quite a lot of interests. Butterflies, as I bit of garden, and I've got quite a lot of interests. Butterflies, as I told you, and a bit of bird watching now and again. I didn't realise told you, and a bit of bird watching now and again. I didn't realise that I'd miss what I might call the human element so much. that I'd miss what I might call the human element so much.

"I'd looked forward to going abroad in a small way. Well, I've taken one weekend trip to France. Quite nice, I must say - but I felt, very one weekend trip to France. Quite nice, I must say - but I felt, very strongly, that England's really good enough for me. I didn't care for strongly, that England's really good enough for me. I didn't care for the foreign cooking, for one thing. They haven't the least idea, as the foreign cooking, for one thing. They haven't the least idea, as far as I can see, how to do eggs and bacon." far as I can see, how to do eggs and bacon."

He sighed again.

"Just shows you what human nature is. Looked forward no end to retiring, I did. And now, do you know I've actually played with the retiring, I did. And now, do you know I've actually played with the idea of buying a small share in a pharmaceutical business here in idea of buying a small share in a pharmaceutical business here in Bournemouth - just enough to give me an interest, no need to be Bournemouth - just enough to give me an interest, no need to be tied to the shop all the time. But I'd feel in the middle of things tied to the shop all the time. But I'd feel in the middle of things again. It will be the same with you, I expect. You'll make plans again. It will be the same with you, I expect. You'll make plans ahead, but when the time comes, you'll miss the excitement of your ahead, but when the time comes, you'll miss the excitement of your present life." present life."

Lejeune smiled.

"A policeman's life is not such a romantically exciting one as you think, Mr Osborne. You've got the amateur's view of crime. Most of think, Mr Osborne. You've got the amateur's view of crime. Most of it is dull routine. We're not always chasing down criminals, and it is dull routine. We're not always chasing down criminals, and following up mysterious clues. It can be quite a dull business, following up mysterious clues. It can be quite a dull business, really." really."

Mr Osborne looked unconvinced.

"You know best," he said. "Good-bye, Mr Lejeune, and I'm sorry indeed that I haven't been able to help you. If there was anything - indeed that I haven't been able to help you. If there was anything - any time -" any time -"

"I'll let you know," Lejeune promised him.

"That day at the fte, it seemed such a chance," Osborne murmured sadly. sadly.

"I know. A pity the medical evidence is so definite, but one can't get over that sort of thing, can one?" over that sort of thing, can one?"

"Well -" Mr Osborne let the word linger, but Lejeune did not notice it. He strode away briskly. Mr Osborne stood by the gate looking it. He strode away briskly. Mr Osborne stood by the gate looking after him. after him.

"Medical evidence," he said. "Doctors indeed! If he knew half what I know about doctors - innocents, that's what they are! Doctors know about doctors - innocents, that's what they are! Doctors indeed!" indeed!"