"I don't think she was a Londoner. Came from somewhere up north, I should say." I should say."

"You didn't feel there was anything - well, mysterious about her?"

Lejeune felt a doubt as he spoke. If she was a suggestible woman - But Mrs Coppins did not take advantage of the opportunity offered But Mrs Coppins did not take advantage of the opportunity offered to her. to her.

"Well, I can't say really that I did. Certainly not from anything she ever said. The only thing that perhaps might have made me wonder ever said. The only thing that perhaps might have made me wonder was her suitcase. Good quality it was, but not new. And the initials was her suitcase. Good quality it was, but not new. And the initials on it had been painted over. I.D. - Jessie Davis. But originally it had on it had been painted over. I.D. - Jessie Davis. But originally it had been something else. H, I think. But it might have been an A. Still, I been something else. H, I think. But it might have been an A. Still, I didn't think anything of that at the time. You can often pick up a didn't think anything of that at the time. You can often pick up a good piece of luggage secondhand ever so cheap, and then it's good piece of luggage secondhand ever so cheap, and then it's natural to get the initials altered. She hadn't a lot of stuff - only the natural to get the initials altered. She hadn't a lot of stuff - only the one case." one case."

Lejeune knew that. The dead woman had had curiously few personal possessions. No letters had been kept, no photographs. personal possessions. No letters had been kept, no photographs. She had had apparently no insurance card, no bank book, no check She had had apparently no insurance card, no bank book, no check book. Her clothes were of good everyday serviceable quality, book. Her clothes were of good everyday serviceable quality, nearly new. nearly new.

"She seemed quite happy?" he asked.

"I suppose so."

He pounced on the faint doubtful tone in her voice.

"You only suppose so?"

"Well, it's not the kind of thing you think about, is it? I should say she was nicely off, with a good job, and quite satisfied with her life. she was nicely off, with a good job, and quite satisfied with her life. She wasn't the bubbling over sort. But of course, when she got ill -" She wasn't the bubbling over sort. But of course, when she got ill -"

"Yes, when she got ill?" he prompted her.

"Vexed, she was at first. When she went down with flu, I mean. It would put all her schedule out, she said. Missing appointments and would put all her schedule out, she said. Missing appointments and all that. But flu's flu, and you can't ignore it when it's there. So she all that. But flu's flu, and you can't ignore it when it's there. So she stopped in bed, and made herself tea on the gas ring, and took stopped in bed, and made herself tea on the gas ring, and took aspirin. I said why not have the doctor and she said no point in it. aspirin. I said why not have the doctor and she said no point in it. Nothing to do for flu but stay in bed and keep warm and I'd better Nothing to do for flu but stay in bed and keep warm and I'd better not come near her to catch it. I did a bit of cooking for her when she not come near her to catch it. I did a bit of cooking for her when she got better. Hot soup and toast. And a rice pudding now and again. It got better. Hot soup and toast. And a rice pudding now and again. It got her down, of course, flu does - but not more than what's usual, got her down, of course, flu does - but not more than what's usual, I'd say. It's after the fever goes down that you get the depression - I'd say. It's after the fever goes down that you get the depression - and she got that like everyone does. She sat there, by the gas fire, I and she got that like everyone does. She sat there, by the gas fire, I remember, and said to me, 'I wish one didn't have so much time to remember, and said to me, 'I wish one didn't have so much time to think. I don't like having time to think. It gets me down.'" think. I don't like having time to think. It gets me down.'"

Lejeune continued to look deeply attentive and Mrs Coppins warmed to her theme. warmed to her theme.

"Lent her some magazines, I did. But she didn't seem able to keep her mind on reading. Said once, I remember, 'If things aren't all they her mind on reading. Said once, I remember, 'If things aren't all they should be, it's better not to know about it, don't you agree?' And I should be, it's better not to know about it, don't you agree?' And I said 'That's right, dearie.' And she said, 'I don't know - I've never said 'That's right, dearie.' And she said, 'I don't know - I've never really been sure.' And I said that was all right, then. And she said really been sure.' And I said that was all right, then. And she said 'Everything I've done has always been perfectly straightforward and aboveboard. I've nothing to reproach myself with.' And I said and aboveboard. I've nothing to reproach myself with.' And I said 'Of course you haven't, dear.' But I did just wonder in my own mind whether in the firm that employed her there mightn't have been whether in the firm that employed her there mightn't have been some funny business with the accounts maybe, and she'd got wind some funny business with the accounts maybe, and she'd got wind of it - but had felt it wasn't really her business." of it - but had felt it wasn't really her business."

"Possible," agreed Lejeune.

"Anyway, she got well again - or nearly so, and went back to work. I told her it was too soon. Give yourself another day or two, I said. told her it was too soon. Give yourself another day or two, I said. And there, how right I was! Come back the second evening, she And there, how right I was! Come back the second evening, she did, and I could see at once she'd got a high fever. Couldn't hardly did, and I could see at once she'd got a high fever. Couldn't hardly climb the stairs. You must have the doctor, I says, but no, she climb the stairs. You must have the doctor, I says, but no, she wouldn't. Worse and worse she got, all that day, her eyes glassy, wouldn't. Worse and worse she got, all that day, her eyes glassy, and her cheeks like fire, and her breathing terrible. And the next and her cheeks like fire, and her breathing terrible. And the next day in the evening she said to me, hardly able to get the words out: day in the evening she said to me, hardly able to get the words out: 'A priest. I must have a priest. And quickly... or it will be too late.'

But it wasn't our vicar she wanted. It had to be a Roman Catholic priest. I never knew she was a Roman, never any crucifix about or priest. I never knew she was a Roman, never any crucifix about or anything like that." anything like that."

But there had been a crucifix, tucked away at the bottom of the suitcase. Lejeune did not mention it. He sat listening. suitcase. Lejeune did not mention it. He sat listening.

"I saw young Mike in the street and I sent him for that Father Gorman at St Dominic's. And I rang the doctor, and the hospital on Gorman at St Dominic's. And I rang the doctor, and the hospital on my own account, not saying nothing to her." my own account, not saying nothing to her."

"You took the priest up to her when he came?"

"Yes, I did. And left them together."

"Did either of them say anything?"

"Well now, I can't exactly remember. I was talking myself, saying here was the priest and now she'd be all right, trying to cheer her here was the priest and now she'd be all right, trying to cheer her up, but I do call to mind now as I closed the door I heard her say up, but I do call to mind now as I closed the door I heard her say something about wickedness. Yes - and something, too, about a something about wickedness. Yes - and something, too, about a horse - horse racing, maybe. I like a half-crown on myself horse - horse racing, maybe. I like a half-crown on myself occasionally, but there's a lot of crookedness goes on in racing, so occasionally, but there's a lot of crookedness goes on in racing, so they say." they say."

"Wickedness," said Lejeune. He was struck by the word.

"Have to confess their sins, don't they, Romans, before they die? So I suppose that was it." I suppose that was it."

Lejeune did not doubt that that was it, but his imagination was stirred by the word used. Wickedness... stirred by the word used. Wickedness...

Something rather special in wickedness, he thought, if the priest who knew about it was followed and clubbed to death. who knew about it was followed and clubbed to death.

II.

There was nothing to be learned from the other three lodgers in the house. Two of them, a bank clerk and an elderly man who worked in house. Two of them, a bank clerk and an elderly man who worked in a shoe shop had been there for some years. The third was a girl of a shoe shop had been there for some years. The third was a girl of twenty-two who had come there recently and had a job in a nearby twenty-two who had come there recently and had a job in a nearby department store. All three of them barely knew Mrs Davis by sight. department store. All three of them barely knew Mrs Davis by sight.

The woman who had reported having seen Father Gorman in the street that evening had no useful information to give. She was a street that evening had no useful information to give. She was a Catholic who attended St Dominic's and she knew Father Gorman Catholic who attended St Dominic's and she knew Father Gorman by sight. She had seen him turn out of Benthall Street and go into by sight. She had seen him turn out of Benthall Street and go into Tony's Place about ten minutes to eight. That was all. Mr Osborne, Tony's Place about ten minutes to eight. That was all. Mr Osborne, the proprietor of the chemist's shop on the corner of Barton Street, the proprietor of the chemist's shop on the corner of Barton Street, had a better contribution to make. had a better contribution to make.

He was a small, middle-aged man, with a bald domed head, a round ingenuous face, and glasses. ingenuous face, and glasses.

"Good evening, Chief Inspector. Come behind, will you?" He held up the flap of an old-fashioned counter. Lejeune passed behind and up the flap of an old-fashioned counter. Lejeune passed behind and through a dispensing alcove where a young man in a white overall through a dispensing alcove where a young man in a white overall was making up bottles of medicine with the swiftness of a was making up bottles of medicine with the swiftness of a professional conjurer, and so through an archway into a tiny room professional conjurer, and so through an archway into a tiny room with a couple of easy chairs, a table, and a desk. Mr Osborne pulled with a couple of easy chairs, a table, and a desk. Mr Osborne pulled the curtain of the archway behind him in a secretive manner and the curtain of the archway behind him in a secretive manner and sat down in one chair, motioning to Lejeune to take the other. He sat down in one chair, motioning to Lejeune to take the other. He leaned forward, his eyes glinting in pleasurable excitement. leaned forward, his eyes glinting in pleasurable excitement.

"It just happens that I may be able to assist you. It wasn't a busy evening - nothing much to do, the weather being unfavourable. My evening - nothing much to do, the weather being unfavourable. My young lady was behind the counter. We keep open until eight on young lady was behind the counter. We keep open until eight on Thursday always. The fog was coming on and there weren't many Thursday always. The fog was coming on and there weren't many people about. I'd gone to the door to look at the weather, thinking to people about. I'd gone to the door to look at the weather, thinking to myself that the fog was coming up fast. The weather forecast had myself that the fog was coming up fast. The weather forecast had said it would. I stood there for a bit - nothing going on inside that my said it would. I stood there for a bit - nothing going on inside that my young lady couldn't deal with - face creams and bath salts and all young lady couldn't deal with - face creams and bath salts and all that. Then I saw Father Gorman coming along on the other side of that. Then I saw Father Gorman coming along on the other side of the street. I know him quite well by sight, of course. A shocking the street. I know him quite well by sight, of course. A shocking thing, this murder, attacking a man so well thought of as he is. thing, this murder, attacking a man so well thought of as he is.

'There's Father Gorman,' I said to myself. He was going in the direction of West Street, it's the next turn on the left before the direction of West Street, it's the next turn on the left before the railway, as you know. A little way behind him there was another railway, as you know. A little way behind him there was another man. It wouldn't have entered my head to notice or think anything of man. It wouldn't have entered my head to notice or think anything of that, but quite suddenly this second man came to a stop - quite that, but quite suddenly this second man came to a stop - quite abruptly, just when he was level with my door. I wondered why he'd abruptly, just when he was level with my door. I wondered why he'd stopped - and then I noticed that Father Gorman, a little way ahead, stopped - and then I noticed that Father Gorman, a little way ahead, was slowing down. He didn't quite stop. It was as though he was was slowing down. He didn't quite stop. It was as though he was thinking of something so hard that he almost forgot he was walking. thinking of something so hard that he almost forgot he was walking. Then he started on again, and this other man started to walk, too - Then he started on again, and this other man started to walk, too - rather fast. I thought - inasmuch as I thought at all, that perhaps it rather fast. I thought - inasmuch as I thought at all, that perhaps it was someone who knew Father Gorman and wanted to catch him was someone who knew Father Gorman and wanted to catch him up and speak to him." up and speak to him."

"But in actual fact he could simply have been following him?"

"That's what I'm sure he was doing now - not that I thought anything of it at the time. What with the fog coming up, I lost sight of them of it at the time. What with the fog coming up, I lost sight of them both almost at once." both almost at once."

"Can you describe this man at all?"

Lejeune's voice was not confident. He was prepared for the usual nondescript characteristics. But Mr Osborne was made of different nondescript characteristics. But Mr Osborne was made of different mettle from Tony of Tony's Place. mettle from Tony of Tony's Place.

"Well, yes, I think so," he said with complacency. "He was a tall man -" man -"

"Tall? How tall?"

"Well - five eleven to six feet, at least, I'd say. Though he might have seemed taller than he was because he was very thin. Sloping seemed taller than he was because he was very thin. Sloping shoulders he had, and a definite Adam's apple. Grew his hair rather shoulders he had, and a definite Adam's apple. Grew his hair rather long under his Homburg. A great beak of a nose. Very noticeable. long under his Homburg. A great beak of a nose. Very noticeable. Naturally I couldn't say as to the colour of his eyes. I saw him in Naturally I couldn't say as to the colour of his eyes. I saw him in profile as you'll appreciate. Perhaps fifty as to age. I'm going by the profile as you'll appreciate. Perhaps fifty as to age. I'm going by the walk. A youngish man moves quite differently." walk. A youngish man moves quite differently."

Lejeune made a mental survey of the distance across the street, then back again to Mr Osborne, and wondered. He wondered very then back again to Mr Osborne, and wondered. He wondered very much... much...

A description such as that given by the chemist could mean one of two things. It could spring from an unusually vivid imagination - he two things. It could spring from an unusually vivid imagination - he had known many examples of that kind, mostly from women. They had known many examples of that kind, mostly from women. They built up a fancy portrait of what they thought a murderer ought to built up a fancy portrait of what they thought a murderer ought to look like. Such fancy portraits, however, usually contained some look like. Such fancy portraits, however, usually contained some decidedly spurious details - such as rolling eyes, beetle brows, ape- decidedly spurious details - such as rolling eyes, beetle brows, ape- like jaws, snarling ferocity. The description given by Mr Osborne like jaws, snarling ferocity. The description given by Mr Osborne sounded like the description of a real person. In that case it was sounded like the description of a real person. In that case it was possible that here was the witness in a million - a man who possible that here was the witness in a million - a man who observed accurately and in detail and who would be quite observed accurately and in detail and who would be quite unshakable as to what he had seen. unshakable as to what he had seen.

Again Lejeune considered the distance across the street. His eyes rested thoughtfully on the chemist. rested thoughtfully on the chemist.

He asked: "Do you think you would recognize this man if you saw him again?" him again?"

"Oh yes," Mr Osborne was supremely confident. "I never forget a face. It's one of my hobbies. I've always said that if one of these wife face. It's one of my hobbies. I've always said that if one of these wife murderers came into my place and bought a nice little package of murderers came into my place and bought a nice little package of arsenic, I'd be able to swear to him at the trial. I've always had my arsenic, I'd be able to swear to him at the trial. I've always had my hopes that something like that would happen one day." hopes that something like that would happen one day."

"But it hasn't happened yet?"

Mr Osborne admitted sadly that it hadn't.

"And not likely to now," he added wistfully. "I'm selling this business. Getting a very nice price for it, and retiring to business. Getting a very nice price for it, and retiring to Bournemouth." Bournemouth."

"It looks a nice place you've got here."

"It's got class," said Mr Osborne, a note of pride in his voice.

"Nearly a hundred years we've been established here. My grandfather and my father before me. A good old-fashioned family grandfather and my father before me. A good old-fashioned family business. Not that I saw it that way as a boy. Stuffy, I thought it. Like business. Not that I saw it that way as a boy. Stuffy, I thought it. Like many a lad, I was bitten by the stage. Felt sure I could act. My father many a lad, I was bitten by the stage. Felt sure I could act. My father didn't try to stop me. 'See what you can make of it, my boy,' he said. didn't try to stop me. 'See what you can make of it, my boy,' he said.

'You'll find you're no Sir Henry Irving.' And how right he was! Very wise man, my father. Eighteen months or so in repertory and back I wise man, my father. Eighteen months or so in repertory and back I came into the business. Took a pride in it. I did. We've always kept came into the business. Took a pride in it. I did. We've always kept good solid stuff. Old-fashioned. But quality. But nowadays -" he good solid stuff. Old-fashioned. But quality. But nowadays -" he shook his head sadly - "disappointing for a pharmacist. All this toilet shook his head sadly - "disappointing for a pharmacist. All this toilet stuff. You've got to keep it. Half the profits come from all that muck. stuff. You've got to keep it. Half the profits come from all that muck. Powder and lipstick and face creams; and hair shampoos and fancy Powder and lipstick and face creams; and hair shampoos and fancy sponge bags. I don't touch the stuff myself. I have a young lady sponge bags. I don't touch the stuff myself. I have a young lady behind the counter who attends to all that. No, it's not what it used behind the counter who attends to all that. No, it's not what it used to be, having a chemist's establishment. However, I've a good sum to be, having a chemist's establishment. However, I've a good sum put by, and I'm getting a very good price, and I've made a down put by, and I'm getting a very good price, and I've made a down payment on a very nice little bungalow near Bournemouth." payment on a very nice little bungalow near Bournemouth."

He added: "Retire while you can still enjoy life. That's my motto. I've got plenty of hobbies. Butterflies, for instance. And a bit of bird watching now of hobbies. Butterflies, for instance. And a bit of bird watching now and then. And gardening - plenty of good books on how to start a and then. And gardening - plenty of good books on how to start a garden. And there's travel. I might go on one of these cruises - see garden. And there's travel. I might go on one of these cruises - see foreign parts before it's too late." foreign parts before it's too late."

Lejeune rose.

"Well, I wish you the best of luck," he said. "And if before you actually leave these parts, you should catch sight of that man -" actually leave these parts, you should catch sight of that man -"

"I'll let you know at once, Mr Lejeune. Naturally. You can count on me. It will be a pleasure. As I've told you, I've a very good eye for a me. It will be a pleasure. As I've told you, I've a very good eye for a face. I shall be on the lookout. On the qui vive, as they say. Oh yes. face. I shall be on the lookout. On the qui vive, as they say. Oh yes. You can rely on me. It will be a pleasure." You can rely on me. It will be a pleasure."

Chapter 4.

I came out of the Old Vic, my friend Hermia Redcliffe beside me. We had been to see a performance of Macbeth. It was raining hard. As had been to see a performance of Macbeth. It was raining hard. As we ran across the street to the spot where I had parked my car, we ran across the street to the spot where I had parked my car, Hermia remarked unjustly that whenever one went to the Old Vic it Hermia remarked unjustly that whenever one went to the Old Vic it always rained. always rained.

"It's just one of those things."

I dissented from this view. I said that, unlike sundials, she remembered only the rainy hours. remembered only the rainy hours.

"Now at Glyndebourne," went on Hermia as I let in the clutch, "I've always been lucky. I can't imagine it other than perfection; the always been lucky. I can't imagine it other than perfection; the music - and the glorious flower borders - the white flower border in music - and the glorious flower borders - the white flower border in particular." particular."

We discussed Glyndebourne and its music for a while, and then Hermia remarked: Hermia remarked: "We're not going to Dover for breakfast, are we?"

"Dover? What an extraordinary idea. I thought we'd go to the Fantasie. One needs some really good food and drink after all the Fantasie. One needs some really good food and drink after all the magnificent blood and gloom of Macbeth. Shakespeare always magnificent blood and gloom of Macbeth. Shakespeare always makes me ravenous." makes me ravenous."

"Yes. So does Wagner. Smoked salmon sandwiches at Covent Garden in the intervals are never enough to stay the pangs. As to Garden in the intervals are never enough to stay the pangs. As to why Dover, it's because you're driving in that direction." why Dover, it's because you're driving in that direction."

"One has to go round," I explained.

"But you've overdone going round. You're well away on the Old (or is it the New?) Kent Road." is it the New?) Kent Road."

I took stock of my surroundings and had to admit that Hermia, as usual, was quite right. usual, was quite right.

"I always get muddled here," I said in apology.

"It is confusing," Hermia agreed. "Round and round Waterloo Station." Station."

Having at last successfully negotiated Westminster Bridge we resumed our conversation, discussing the production of Macbeth resumed our conversation, discussing the production of Macbeth that we had just been viewing. My friend Hermia Redcliffe was a that we had just been viewing. My friend Hermia Redcliffe was a handsome young woman of twenty-eight. Cast in the heroic mould, handsome young woman of twenty-eight. Cast in the heroic mould, she had an almost flawless Greek profile, and a mass of dark she had an almost flawless Greek profile, and a mass of dark chestnut hair coiled on the nape of her neck. My sister always chestnut hair coiled on the nape of her neck. My sister always referred to her as "Mark's girlfriend" with an intonation of inverted referred to her as "Mark's girlfriend" with an intonation of inverted commas about the term that never failed to annoy me. commas about the term that never failed to annoy me.

The Fantasie gave us a pleasant welcome and showed us to a small table against the crimson velvet wall. The Fantasie is deservedly table against the crimson velvet wall. The Fantasie is deservedly popular, and the tables are close together. As we sat down, our popular, and the tables are close together. As we sat down, our neighbours at the next table greeted us cheerfully. David Ardingly neighbours at the next table greeted us cheerfully. David Ardingly was a lecturer in History at Oxford. He introduced his companion, a was a lecturer in History at Oxford. He introduced his companion, a very pretty girl with a fashionable hairdo, all ends, bits and pieces very pretty girl with a fashionable hairdo, all ends, bits and pieces sticking out at improbable angles on the crown of her head. sticking out at improbable angles on the crown of her head. Strange to say, it suited her. She had enormous blue eyes and a Strange to say, it suited her. She had enormous blue eyes and a mouth that was usually half open. She was, as all David's girls were mouth that was usually half open. She was, as all David's girls were known to be, extremely silly. David, who was a remarkably clever known to be, extremely silly. David, who was a remarkably clever young man, could only find relaxation with girls who were young man, could only find relaxation with girls who were practically half-witted. practically half-witted.

"This is my particular pet, Poppy," he explained. "Meet Mark and Hermia. They're very serious and highbrow and you must try and Hermia. They're very serious and highbrow and you must try and live up to them. We've just come from Do It for Kicks. Lovely show! I live up to them. We've just come from Do It for Kicks. Lovely show! I bet you two are straight from Shakespeare or a revival of Ibsen." bet you two are straight from Shakespeare or a revival of Ibsen."

"Macbeth at the Old Vic," said Hermia.

"Ah, what do you think of Batterson's production?"

"I liked it," said Hermia. "The lighting was very interesting. And I've never seen the banquet scene so well managed." never seen the banquet scene so well managed."

"Ah, but what about the witches?"

"Awful!" said Hermia. "They always are," she added. David agreed.

"A pantomime element seems bound to creep in," he said. "All of them capering about and behaving like a three-fold Demon King. them capering about and behaving like a three-fold Demon King. You can't help expecting a Good Fairy to appear in white with You can't help expecting a Good Fairy to appear in white with spangles to say in a flat voice: spangles to say in a flat voice: Your evil shall not triumph. In the end, It is Macbeth who will be round the bend."

We all laughed, but David, who was quick on the uptake, gave me a sharp glance. sharp glance.

"What gives with you?" he asked.

"Nothing. It was just that I was reflecting only the other day about Evil and Demon Kings in pantomime. Yes - and Good Fairies, too." Evil and Demon Kings in pantomime. Yes - and Good Fairies, too."

" propos de what?" propos de what?"

"Oh, in Chelsea at a coffee bar."

"How smart and up to date you are, aren't you, Mark? All among the Chelsea set. Where heiresses in tights marry corner boys on the Chelsea set. Where heiresses in tights marry corner boys on the make. That's where Poppy ought to be, isn't it, duckie?" make. That's where Poppy ought to be, isn't it, duckie?"

Poppy opened her enormous eyes still wider.

"I hate Chelsea," she protested. "I like the Fantasie much better!

Such lovely, lovely food."

"Good for you, Poppy. Anyway, you're not really rich enough for Chelsea. Tell us more about Macbeth, Mark, and the awful witches. Chelsea. Tell us more about Macbeth, Mark, and the awful witches. I know how I'd produce the witches if I were doing a production." I know how I'd produce the witches if I were doing a production."

David had been a prominent member of the Oxford University Dramatic Society in the past. Dramatic Society in the past.

"Well, how?" "I'd make them very ordinary. Just sly quiet old women. Like the witches in a country village." women. Like the witches in a country village."

"But there aren't any witches nowadays," said Poppy staring at him. him.

"You say that because you're a London girl. There's still a witch in every village in rural England. Old Mrs Black, in the third cottage up every village in rural England. Old Mrs Black, in the third cottage up the hill. Little boys are told not to annoy her, and she's given the hill. Little boys are told not to annoy her, and she's given presents of eggs and a home-baked cake now and again. presents of eggs and a home-baked cake now and again.

Because," he wagged a finger impressively, "if you get across her, your cows will stop giving milk, your potato crop will fail, or little your cows will stop giving milk, your potato crop will fail, or little Johnnie will twist his ankle. You must keep on the right side of old Johnnie will twist his ankle. You must keep on the right side of old Mrs Black. Nobody says so outright, but they all know!" Mrs Black. Nobody says so outright, but they all know!"

"You're joking," said Poppy, pouting.

"No, I'm not. I'm right, aren't I, Mark?"

"Surely all that kind of superstition has died out completely with education," said Hermia sceptically. education," said Hermia sceptically.