"Not the original. But I copied them out. Here you are."

I took the paper he produced from his pocket and proceeded to study it. study it.

"Parkinson? I know two Parkinsons. Arthur who went into the Navy. Then there's a Henry Parkinson in one of the Ministries. Ormerod - Then there's a Henry Parkinson in one of the Ministries. Ormerod - There's a Major Ormerod in the Blues-Sandford - our old Rector There's a Major Ormerod in the Blues-Sandford - our old Rector when I was a boy was Sandford. Harmondsworth? No - Tuckerton -" when I was a boy was Sandford. Harmondsworth? No - Tuckerton -" I paused. "Tuckerton... not Thomasina Tuckerton, I suppose?" I paused. "Tuckerton... not Thomasina Tuckerton, I suppose?"

Corrigan looked at me curiously.

"Could be, for all I know. Who's she and what does she do?"

"Nothing now. Her death was in the paper about a week ago."

"That's not much help, then."

I continued with my reading. "Shaw. I know a dentist called Shaw, and there's Jerome Shaw, Q.C... Delafontaine - I've heard that name and there's Jerome Shaw, Q.C... Delafontaine - I've heard that name lately, but I can't remember where. Corrigan. Does that refer to lately, but I can't remember where. Corrigan. Does that refer to you, by any chance?" you, by any chance?"

"I devoutly hope not. I've a feeling that it's unlucky to have your name on that list." name on that list."

"Maybe. What made you think of blackmail in connection with it?"

"It was Detective-Inspector Lejeune's suggestion if I remember rightly. It seemed the most likely possibility. But there are plenty of rightly. It seemed the most likely possibility. But there are plenty of others. This may be a list of dope smugglers, or drug addicts, or others. This may be a list of dope smugglers, or drug addicts, or secret agents - it may be anything in fact. There's only one thing secret agents - it may be anything in fact. There's only one thing sure, it was important enough for murder to be committed in order sure, it was important enough for murder to be committed in order to get hold of it." to get hold of it."

I asked curiously: "Do you always take such an interest in the police side of your work?" side of your work?"

He shook his head.

"Can't say I do. My interest is in criminal character. Background, upbringing, and particularly glandular health - all that!" upbringing, and particularly glandular health - all that!"

"Then why the interest in this list of names?"

"Blessed if I know," said Corrigan slowly. "Seeing my own name on the list, perhaps. Up the Corrigans! One Corrigan to the rescue of the list, perhaps. Up the Corrigans! One Corrigan to the rescue of another Corrigan." another Corrigan."

"Rescue? Then you definitely see this as a list of victims - not a list of malefactors. But surely it could be either?" of malefactors. But surely it could be either?"

"You're entirely right. And it's certainly odd that I should be so positive. Perhaps it's just a feeling. Or perhaps it's something to do positive. Perhaps it's just a feeling. Or perhaps it's something to do with Father Gorman. I didn't come across him very often, but he with Father Gorman. I didn't come across him very often, but he was a fine man, respected by everyone and loved by his own flock. was a fine man, respected by everyone and loved by his own flock. He was the good tough militant kind. I can't get it out of my head He was the good tough militant kind. I can't get it out of my head that be considered this list a matter of life or death..." that be considered this list a matter of life or death..."

"Aren't the police getting anywhere?"

"Oh yes, but it's a long business. Checking here, checking there. Checking the antecedents of the woman who called him out that Checking the antecedents of the woman who called him out that night." night."

"Who was she?"

"No mystery about her, apparently. Widow. We had an idea that her husband might have been connected with horse racing, but that husband might have been connected with horse racing, but that doesn't seem to be so. She worked for a small commercial firm that doesn't seem to be so. She worked for a small commercial firm that does consumer research. Nothing wrong there. They are a does consumer research. Nothing wrong there. They are a reputable firm in a small way. They don't know much about her. She reputable firm in a small way. They don't know much about her. She came from the north of England - Lancashire. The only odd thing came from the north of England - Lancashire. The only odd thing about her is that she had so few personal possessions." about her is that she had so few personal possessions."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I expect that's true for a lot more people than we ever imagine. It's a lonely world." a lonely world."

"Yes, as you say."

"Anyway, you decided to take a hand?"

"Just nosing around. Hesketh-Dubois is an uncommon name. I thought if I could find out a little about the lady -" He left the thought if I could find out a little about the lady -" He left the sentence unfinished. "But from what you tell me, there doesn't sentence unfinished. "But from what you tell me, there doesn't seem to be any possible lead there." seem to be any possible lead there."

"Neither a dope addict nor a dope smuggler," I assured him.

"Certainly not a secret agent. Had led far too blameless a life to have been blackmailed. I can't imagine what kind of a list she could have been blackmailed. I can't imagine what kind of a list she could possibly have been on. Her jewelery she kept at the bank, so she possibly have been on. Her jewelery she kept at the bank, so she wouldn't have been a hopeful prospect for robbery." wouldn't have been a hopeful prospect for robbery."

"Any other Hesketh-Duboises that you know about? Sons?"

"No children. She had a nephew and a niece, I think, but not of that name. Her husband was an only child." name. Her husband was an only child."

Corrigan told me sourly that I'd been a lot of help. He looked at his watch, remarked cheerfully that he was due to cut somebody up, watch, remarked cheerfully that he was due to cut somebody up, and we parted. and we parted.

I went home thoughtful, found it impossible to concentrate on my work, and finally, on an impulse, rang up David Ardingly. work, and finally, on an impulse, rang up David Ardingly.

"David? Mark here. That girl I met with you the other evening. Poppy. What's her other name?" Poppy. What's her other name?"

"Going to pinch my girl, is that it?" David sounded highly amused.

"You've got so many of them," I retorted. "You could surely spare one." one."

"You've got a heavyweight of your own, old boy. I thought you were going steady with her." going steady with her."

"Going steady." A repulsive term. And yet, I thought, struck suddenly with its aptitude, how well it described my relationship suddenly with its aptitude, how well it described my relationship with Hermia. And why should it make me feel depressed? I had with Hermia. And why should it make me feel depressed? I had always felt in the back of my mind that some day Hermia and I always felt in the back of my mind that some day Hermia and I would marry... I liked her better than anyone I knew. We had so would marry... I liked her better than anyone I knew. We had so much in common... much in common...

For no conceivable reason, I felt a terrible desire to yawn. Our future stretched out before me. Hermia and I going to plays of future stretched out before me. Hermia and I going to plays of significance, plays that mattered. Discussions of art, of music. No significance, plays that mattered. Discussions of art, of music. No doubt about it, Hermia was the perfect companion. doubt about it, Hermia was the perfect companion.

But not much fun, said some derisive imp, popping up from my subconscious. I was shocked. subconscious. I was shocked.

"Gone to sleep?" asked David.

"Of course not. To tell the truth, I found your friend Poppy very refreshing." refreshing."

"Good word. She is - taken in small doses. Her actual name is Pamela Stirling, and she works in one of those arty flower places in Pamela Stirling, and she works in one of those arty flower places in Mayfair. You know, three dead twigs, a tulip with its petals pinned Mayfair. You know, three dead twigs, a tulip with its petals pinned back and a speckled laurel leaf. Price three guineas." back and a speckled laurel leaf. Price three guineas."

He gave me the address.

"Take her out and enjoy yourself," he said in a kindly avuncular fashion. "You'll find it a great relaxation. That girl knows nothing - fashion. "You'll find it a great relaxation. That girl knows nothing - she's absolutely empty-headed. She'll believe anything you tell her. she's absolutely empty-headed. She'll believe anything you tell her. She's virtuous by the way, so don't indulge in any false hopes." She's virtuous by the way, so don't indulge in any false hopes."

He rang off.

IV.

I invaded the portals of the Flower Studies Ltd. with some trepidation. An overpowering smell of gardenia nearly knocked me trepidation. An overpowering smell of gardenia nearly knocked me backwards. A number of girls, dressed in pale green sheaths and backwards. A number of girls, dressed in pale green sheaths and all looking exactly like Poppy, confused me. Finally, I identified her. all looking exactly like Poppy, confused me. Finally, I identified her. She was writing down an address with some difficulty, pausing She was writing down an address with some difficulty, pausing doubtfully over the spelling of Fortescue Crescent. As soon as she doubtfully over the spelling of Fortescue Crescent. As soon as she was at liberty, after having further difficulties connected with was at liberty, after having further difficulties connected with producing the right change for a five-pound note, I claimed her producing the right change for a five-pound note, I claimed her attention. attention.

"We met the other night - with David Ardingly," I reminded her.

"Oh yes!" agreed Poppy warmly, her eyes passing vaguely over my head. head.

"I wanted to ask you something." I felt sudden qualms. "Perhaps I'd better buy some flowers?" better buy some flowers?"

Like an automaton who had had the right button pressed, Poppy said: said: "We've some lovely roses, fresh in today."

"These yellow ones, perhaps?" There were roses everywhere.

"How much are they?"

"Vewy vewy cheap," said Poppy in a honeyed persuasive voice.

"Only five shillings each."

I swallowed and said I would have six of them.

"And some of these vewy vewy special leaves with them?"

I looked dubiously at the special leaves which appeared to be in an advanced state of decay. Instead I chose some bright green advanced state of decay. Instead I chose some bright green asparagus fern, which choice obviously lowered me in Poppy's asparagus fern, which choice obviously lowered me in Poppy's estimation. estimation.

"There was something I wanted to ask you," I reiterated as Poppy was rather clumsily draping the asparagus fern round the roses. was rather clumsily draping the asparagus fern round the roses.

"The other evening you mentioned something called the Pale Horse." Horse."

With a violent start, Poppy dropped the roses and the asparagus fern on the floor. fern on the floor.

"Can you tell me more about it?"

Poppy straightened herself after stooping.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"I was asking you about the Pale Horse."

"A pale horse? What do you mean?"

"You mentioned it the other evening."

"I'm sure I never did anything of the kind! I've never heard of any such thing." such thing."

"Somebody told you about it. Who was it?"

Poppy drew a deep breath and spoke very fast.

"I don't in the least know what you mean! And we're not supposed to talk to customers." She slapped paper round my choice. "That to talk to customers." She slapped paper round my choice. "That will be thirty-five shillings, please." will be thirty-five shillings, please."

I gave her two pound notes. She thrust six shillings into my hand and turned quickly to another customer. and turned quickly to another customer.

Her hands, I noticed, were shaking slightly.

I went out slowly. When I had gone a little way, I realised that she had quoted the wrong price (asparagus fern was seven and six) and had quoted the wrong price (asparagus fern was seven and six) and had also given me too much change. Her mistakes in arithmetic had had also given me too much change. Her mistakes in arithmetic had previously been in the other direction. previously been in the other direction.

I saw again that rather lovely vacant face and the wide blue eyes. There had been something showing in those eyes. There had been something showing in those eyes.

"Scared," I said to myself. "Scared stiff. Now why? Why?"

Chapter 5.

"What a relief," sighed Mrs Oliver. "To think it's over and nothing has happened!" has happened!"

It was a moment of relaxation. Rhoda's fte had passed off in the manner of f manner of ftes. Violent anxiety about the weather which in the early morning appeared capricious in the extreme. Considerable early morning appeared capricious in the extreme. Considerable argument as to whether any stalls should be set up in the open, or argument as to whether any stalls should be set up in the open, or whether everything should take place in the long barn and the whether everything should take place in the long barn and the marquee. Various passionate local disputes regarding tea marquee. Various passionate local disputes regarding tea arrangements, produce stalls, etcetera. Tactful settlement of same by Rhoda. Periodical by Rhoda. Periodical escapes of Rhoda's delightful but undisciplined dogs which were supposed to be incarcerated in the house, owing to doubts as to their behaviour on this great occasion. house, owing to doubts as to their behaviour on this great occasion. Doubts fully justified! Arrival of pleasant but vague starlet in a Doubts fully justified! Arrival of pleasant but vague starlet in a profusion of pale fur, to open the f profusion of pale fur, to open the fte, which she did very charmingly, adding a few moving words about the plight of charmingly, adding a few moving words about the plight of refugees which puzzled everybody, since the object of the f refugees which puzzled everybody, since the object of the fte was the restoration of the church tower. Enormous success of the bottle the restoration of the church tower. Enormous success of the bottle stall. The usual difficulties about change. Pandemonium at tea-time stall. The usual difficulties about change. Pandemonium at tea-time when every patron wanted to invade the marquee and partake of it when every patron wanted to invade the marquee and partake of it simultaneously. simultaneously.

Finally, blessed arrival of evening. Displays of local dancing in the long barn were still going on. Fireworks and a bonfire were long barn were still going on. Fireworks and a bonfire were scheduled, but the weary household had now retired to the house, scheduled, but the weary household had now retired to the house, and were partaking of a sketchy cold meal in the dining room, and were partaking of a sketchy cold meal in the dining room, indulging meanwhile in one of those desultory conversations where indulging meanwhile in one of those desultory conversations where everyone utters his own thoughts, and pays little attention to those everyone utters his own thoughts, and pays little attention to those of other people. It was all disjointed and comfortable. The released of other people. It was all disjointed and comfortable. The released dogs crunched bones happily under the table. dogs crunched bones happily under the table.

"We shall take more than we did for the Save the Children last year," said Rhoda gleefully. year," said Rhoda gleefully.

"It seems very extraordinary to me," said Miss Macalister, the children's Scottish nursery governess, "that Michael Brent should children's Scottish nursery governess, "that Michael Brent should find the buried treasure three years in succession. I'm wondering if find the buried treasure three years in succession. I'm wondering if he gets some advance information?" he gets some advance information?"

"Lady Brookbank won the pig," said Rhoda. "I don't think she wanted it. She looked terribly embarrassed." wanted it. She looked terribly embarrassed."

The party consisted of my Cousin Rhoda, and her husband, Colonel Despard; Miss Macalister; a young woman with red hair, suitably Despard; Miss Macalister; a young woman with red hair, suitably called Ginger; Mrs Oliver; and the vicar, the Rev Caleb Dane called Ginger; Mrs Oliver; and the vicar, the Rev Caleb Dane Calthrop and his wife. The vicar was a charming elderly scholar Calthrop and his wife. The vicar was a charming elderly scholar whose principal pleasure was finding some apposite comment from whose principal pleasure was finding some apposite comment from the classics. This, though often an embarrassment and a cause of the classics. This, though often an embarrassment and a cause of bringing the conversation to a close, was perfectly in order now. bringing the conversation to a close, was perfectly in order now. The vicar never required acknowledgment of his sonorous Latin; The vicar never required acknowledgment of his sonorous Latin; his pleasure in having found an apt quotation was its own reward. his pleasure in having found an apt quotation was its own reward.

"As Horace says..." he observed, beaming round the table.

The usual pause happened and then: "I think Mrs Horsefall cheated over the bottle of champagne," said Ginger thoughtfully. "Her nephew got it." Ginger thoughtfully. "Her nephew got it."

Mrs Dane Calthrop, a disconcerting woman with fine eyes, was studying Mrs Oliver thoughtfully. She asked abruptly: studying Mrs Oliver thoughtfully. She asked abruptly: "What did you expect to happen at this fte?"

"Well, really, a murder or something like that."

Mrs Dane Calthrop looked interested.

"But why should it?"

"No reason at all. Most unlikely, really. But there was one at the last f fte I went to."

"I see. And it upset you?"

"Very much."

The vicar changed from Latin to Greek.

After the pause, Miss Macalister cast doubts on the honesty of the raffle for the live duck. raffle for the live duck.

"Very sporting of old Lugg at the King's Arms to send us twelve dozen beer for the bottle stall," said Despard. dozen beer for the bottle stall," said Despard.