by Kerry Tombs
‘I ask because at twelve o’clock last night a group of visitors found the door open,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Well, I didn’t open it,’ grumbled the verger.
‘Then how do you account for it being open?’
‘How should I know?’ replied the other turning away and attempting to close the door.
‘This is a very serious matter, Mr Trent. Sometime between eight and twelve yesterday evening two people were able to enter the abbey, and one of them was murdered there and placed inside one of the tombs,’ said Ravenscroft, placing his hand on the door to prevent its closure.
‘Perhaps it was that miserable fellow then.’
‘What miserable fellow?’
‘The one that banged on me door last night.’
‘I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand,’ said Ravenscroft, hoping that this line of questioning might be leading somewhere.
‘Came to my house and asked me to open up the abbey for him.’
‘What time was this?’
‘About nine. Said he would give me six shillings if I would meet him and his friends outside the abbey at twelve and let ’em all in.’
‘I see — and did you go to the abbey at the appointed time?’
‘More than my job’s worth. Went to the Nailers instead.’
‘The Nailers?’
‘Jerry-house, up other end of town. You can ask ’em there if you likes. They will tell you I was there from eleven to nearly one.’
‘So this man came to your house at around nine o’clock and asked you to meet him and his colleagues outside the abbey later that evening, but you went to the Nailers instead.’
‘That’s what I said. Wish I ’adn’t gone. I be all a middling this morning.’
‘Can you describe this man who wanted you to meet him outside the abbey?’
‘Miserable he were.’
‘Can you be a little more precise. Was he young, old, thin, fat?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘’Course I can. I ain’t half-soaked. Thin-faced man he were, grey-haired getting on in years, wore spectacles on end of long, thin nose, spoke in a dull old voice. Will that be all?’
‘Thank you, Mr Trent, you have been most helpful.’
The verger closed the door abruptly in Ravenscroft’s face.
* * *
‘Well, Tom, what did you manage to discover at the library?’ asked Ravenscroft, as the two men met up later outside the Hop Pole.
‘Library seems an untidy place. Books everywhere, and the librarian is a strange fellow. Can’t understand what he was saying half the time. Found out some interesting things though, sir,’ replied Crabb taking out his pocket-book.
‘Go on,’ urged Ravenscroft.
‘I looked in the local directory. There was no entry for anyone called Dr Meadows in Cheltenham.’
‘I thought so. So Hollinger was lying. Go on, Tom.’
‘They did have a London directory, and Ganniford and Jenkins are both listed at the places they said — Suffolk Square and near Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The library also had the Army List for the past three years but I could not find any record of a Major Anstruther being listed.’
‘That’s interesting. It would appear then that our major is not perhaps who he claims to be. And Miss Eames?’
‘They didn’t have a directory for Shropshire, sir.’
‘No matter, we can always send a telegram later to the local station in Ludlow.’
‘How did you get on with Trent, sir?’ asked Crabb replacing his notebook in the upper pocket of his tunic.
‘Trent remembers Jesterson locking up the building at eight. Apparently an hour later a gentleman visited his house and engaged Trent’s services to open up the abbey for him at twelve that evening.’
‘That would explain why the abbey was open.’
‘Ah, but Trent never kept the appointment. He went drinking at one of the local inns instead.’
‘So if this Trent did not open the abbey, then who did?’ asked a puzzled Crabb.
‘That is what we have to discover. We now know that it was not just a casual decision to visit the abbey that arose out of the evening’s conversation as our suspects claimed. It had already been decided that they would visit the abbey at twelve that evening. Furthermore the stranger who talked with Trent was of a striking resemblance to our friend Jenkins!’
‘I see, sir.’
‘We have been led a merry dance by these five people, Tom, and no mistake about it. First they cannot remember who suggested the midnight visit to the abbey. Then they claim that the abbey was open upon their arrival there, but we know that Trent never met them there. I am almost certain that some of them at least had met the deceased man before yesterday evening. Hollinger’s claim that he visited this Doctor Meadows in Cheltenham is quite clearly a lie, and Anstruther does not appear to be a major in the Guards. I think all five of them came to Tewkesbury to meet one another and to visit the abbey in search of the Templar tomb. For all I know they could have all murdered that poor man and dumped him inside Sir Roger’s tomb when they were unexpectedly disturbed by Constable Reynolds. I think it is time, Tom, that we got the truth out of all these people. They are taking us for fools and simpletons — and I for one am rather tired of all their lies and deceit!’
CHAPTER THREE
TEWKESBURY
‘Miss Eames, gentlemen, I thank you for your forbearance in this matter.’
It was later that afternoon, and Ravenscroft was standing with his back towards the open fire, facing his five suspects in the snug of the Hop Pole Hotel.
‘Most inconsiderate, I say,’ muttered Ganniford, glancing at his watch before irritably thrusting the timepiece back into the pocket of his red waistcoat.
‘I appreciate that you are all anxious to leave the town at the earliest opportunity and proceed with your respective itineraries—’
‘Should have left hours ago. Regimental business to be transacted,’ interrupted Major Anstruther grooming his moustache with his fingers.
‘—but I have to remind you all that we are dealing with a very serious occurrence,’ continued Ravenscroft, wondering whether this latest attempt to discover the truth from the members of his audience would be any more successful than his previous questioning. ‘Murder is a crime that cannot be taken lightly.’
‘I think we have all told you, Herr Inspector, that this crime has nothing to do with any of us. It was just unfortunate that we came across the open sarcophagus, when we were visiting the abbey,’ smiled Hollinger.
‘As you say, Doctor, it was just unfortunate that it was you and your companions who discovered the open tomb and not anyone else. You have all stated that none of you had ever met the deceased gentleman before yesterday evening — but I clearly believe that is not the case.’
‘Damn it, sir, are you calling us liars!’ growled Anstruther. ‘Such accusations are unfounded, sir, and cannot go uncontested.’
‘I think, Major, that we should allow the inspector to proceed,’ offered Miss Eames, seeking to placate her companion.
‘Well spoken, my good lady. The sooner we allow the inspector to continue with his investigations, the quicker we may all be permitted to leave,’ suggested Jenkins, polishing the lens of his spectacles.
‘Thank you, sir. As I said, I believe that the deceased gentleman was known to each and every one of you. In fact, it is highly likely that he was the reason for you all visiting the town in the first place.’
‘Ridiculous, man! Never seen the fellow before!’ protested Ganniford wriggling uneasily in his chair.
‘That is what you all say, but I would ask you all to consider this case from my point of view. I am called to the abbey to investigate the appearance of a recently deceased gentleman in an open tomb; then I learn from my constable that he found all five of you gathered round the sarcophagus at twelve o’clock yesterday evening. You would all agree that this raises certain suspicions. Two questions immediately come to mind — firstly
, I ask myself, why were these people visiting the abbey at such a late hour—’
‘Told you that man—’ interrupted Ganniford.
‘Ah yes, you had declared that you had all met for the first time over dinner, and somehow the conversation turned to the abbey, and someone suggested it would be a good idea to go and view the monuments at such a late hour,’ continued Ravenscroft, as Crabb took out his pocket-book and licked the end of his pencil.
‘That is what happened, Inspector, what is so strange about that?’ pronounced Hollinger, with a shrug of his shoulders.
‘Quite — but when I questioned each of you earlier today, none of you could agree as to who it was who first suggested the idea. In fact, Dr Hollinger’s account of the dinner conversation would seem to differ from that given by everyone else.’
‘We cannot remember everything that was said at the dinner table,’ emphasized Ganniford.
‘Then there is the further question — why was it that five comparative strangers decided to meet up together, on such an inhospitable night, in such a town as Tewkesbury?’
‘This is a hotel, man. People stay in such places,’ snapped Anstruther.
‘And you all have such perfect reasons for being here,’ smiled Ravenscroft, warming to his subject. ‘Major Anstruther staying here after visiting a lady in Bristol before your return to your regiment in London; Dr Hollinger pausing here for the night after visiting his medical colleague in Cheltenham; Miss Eames seeking solace after the death of her father; and you, Mr Ganniford and Mr Jenkins, taking a respite from your leisurely tour of the Cotswolds and your visit to the spires of Oxford. Such a coincidence that you are all here on the same night, and that you all decided to visit the abbey together at such a late hour.’
‘This is all quite ridiculous! You are just going round in circles, man.’
‘Ah, Major Anstruther of the Guards. Why is it that there is no record of you being employed in such military activity?’
‘Don’t know what yer’re talking about.’
‘Earlier today my constable visited the local library here, where he consulted the Army List for the past three years. He could find no record of your name being included in such a list. How do you explain that, Major?’
‘Well — I — I don’t. There must be some mistake. Been in the Guards for past thirteen years. Printing error. These things happen all the time. Damn it, you can make enquiries with the regiment if you don’t believe me.’
‘We certainly will. Then there is you, Dr Hollinger — visiting a colleague, a Dr Meadows in Cheltenham. Well, I have to tell you that no such doctor is to be found in the local directories. How do you explain that?’ asked Ravenscroft, sensing the growing unease within the group.
‘Simple, my dear Inspector. Doctor Meadows has only just recently taken up residence in the town. Your directory must have been printed before his arrival.’
‘Then we have you, Miss Eames. You say you and your late father resided in Ludlow. I have made enquiries with the local station in that town, and thirty minutes ago received a reply from them, by telegram, stating that there is no family of the name of Eames living in the locality. Perhaps you would care to enlighten us, Miss Eames?’
The lady in question turned away abruptly and bought a handkerchief to her eyes.
‘Look here, Ravenscroft, what is all this about?’ interrupted Ganniford. ‘You can see the poor lady is distressed. Totally uncalled for, all this. Smacks of bullying in my book. Shall need to speak with your superiors, Ravenscroft. I suppose you have been checking up on us as well?’
Ravenscroft smiled, realizing that his questioning might at last be on the verge of obtaining the truth.
‘Where is all this leading us, Ravenscroft?’ asked Jenkins.
‘Ah, Mr Jenkins. How did you know that the abbey would be open at such a late hour?’
‘We didn’t. We just assumed that it would be. If it had been closed, then we would have all have simply returned to the Hop Pole. As it was, we found the building open.’
‘That is rather strange. When I visited Trent, the verger, earlier today, he was quite emphatic that he had locked the abbey when he and The Rev’d Jesterson left it at eight that evening,’ said Ravenscroft, turning to face the antiquary.
‘Well, I suppose that someone had opened it later that evening. There was evidently more than one key,’ replied Jenkins, looking away quickly.
‘Mr Trent also told me that a gentleman had called upon him at nine that evening offering to pay him to meet him and his companions outside the abbey at twelve that same evening.’
‘Well, there you are then, Inspector. That explains why the abbey was open.’
‘But Trent did not keep the appointment. He decided to visit his local drinking hostelry instead. However, he has described the gentleman who called upon him, and this man would seem to prove a strong likeness to yourself, Mr Jenkins,’ said Ravenscroft with conviction.
‘This is quite ridiculous. The man must be mistaken,’ protested Jenkins.
‘Perhaps my constable should go and fetch Trent? I am sure he would clear up this matter. Constable, if you would be so kind—’
‘Oh, for goodness sake, Jenkins, let’s tell the man all we know, or we shall all be here for the rest of the week,’ snapped Ganniford.
‘I think that would be for the best, gentlemen,’ said Miss Eames, still dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief.
‘That would be most advisable,’ said Ravenscroft pausing for a few moments as the various members of the group each sought to avoid his gaze. ‘I must inform you all that it is a criminal offence to withhold vital information that may prove essential to the solving of a serious crime.’
‘Perhaps I should begin,’ offered Hollinger. ‘You are correct, Inspector, when you say that we each had a reason for visiting the town — but I also have to inform you that none of us had met each other until yesterday evening, and that we had nothing to do with the death of that man.’
‘Please go on,’ urged Ravenscroft.
‘Oh, I’ll tell the inspector,’ interrupted Ganniford, in his usual irritable manner.
‘As you wish,’ said Hollinger shrugging his shoulders.
‘Two weeks ago, Stanhope, the fellow we found last night in that tomb, came to my house and showed me a chart that seemed to indicate that I was a descendant of that medieval fellow, Sir Roger Pole, de Pole, or whatever his name was. Said he had spent five years in compiling the chart and tracing the various family lines. At first I thought the man was an idiot, or, worse still, some trickster, and told him to leave, but then he said he had been to see you, Jenkins, and convinced you of the legitimacy of the claim,’ said Ganniford turning towards his friend.
‘Mr Jenkins, can you confirm this?’ enquired Ravenscroft, somewhat confused by this new admission.
‘It is certainly true, Inspector; the man had indeed visited me first and, like my good friend Ganniford here, I had at first thought that his information was entirely fabricated, but the more we talked the more convinced I became that I was indeed also a descendant of Sir Roger de la Pole,’ replied Jenkins.
‘I see,’ said Ravenscroft. ‘Major?’
‘Came to see me about a month ago. Said much the same thing.’
‘And you, Doctor?’
‘It seems that I too am of the same bloodline,’ replied Hollinger.
‘I can also confirm that the man was the same one who also visited me and my late father,’ added Miss Eames, looking down at the floor nervously.
‘So each of you had been approached by the deceased man, who had informed you that you were all descended from the Templar Knight, Sir Roger de la Pole,’ said Ravenscroft giving a sideways glance at Crabb.
‘I know it all sounds rather peculiar,’ muttered Ganniford.
‘That is the reason for our being in Tewkesbury yesterday evening,’ said Miss Eames looking intently at Ravenscroft. ‘Mr Robarts came to see us in Ludlow, and like the two gentlemen who have jus
t spoken, I was somewhat sceptical of his claims. However, like Mr Ganniford and Mr Jenkins, I became convinced that the man was genuine. He thought it would be an excellent idea if we all met together in Tewkesbury, as we were all related to each other. Last week I received a letter from the gentleman, telling me to travel to Tewkesbury where I would meet similar persons as myself.’
‘And did all of you receive such a letter?’ asked Ravenscroft, relieved that at last the truth was being revealed.
‘Exactly the same. Told us to meet outside the abbey door at twelve last night,’ said Ganniford.
‘Forgive me, gentlemen and lady, but I find it rather strange that each of you, after meeting this one man only once before, should have been so willing to leave your respective homes, to travel to Tewkesbury and to meet a group of strangers outside the abbey at such a late hour,’ said a bewildered Ravenscroft.
‘Told you, we should have kept it to ourselves,’ snapped Anstruther. ‘I knew the man would never believe us.’
‘Did this gentleman give any reason why you were all to journey to Tewkesbury?’
A long pause followed Ravenscroft’s question, during which Ganniford moved uneasily in his chair, and Miss Eames played nervously with the handkerchief in her lap, as the three remaining members either stared out of the window or down at the floor. Crabb coughed before letting out a deep sigh.
‘I will repeat my question — what was the reason for your journey to Tewkesbury?’ asked Ravenscroft, becoming frustrated by the apparent abrupt end to his new line of enquiry.
‘Our instructions were to meet together outside the abbey at twelve o’clock,’ replied a reluctant Ganniford.
‘For what purpose?’
‘To meet with our host, and to seek out the last resting place of our ancestor, Sir Roger de la Pole. That is all,’ added Hollinger emphatically.
‘I see,’ said Ravenscroft turning away, deep in thought.
‘So you see, there was nothing sinister in our meeting. None of us was to know that the fellow was already dead inside that tomb,’ said Ganniford.
‘Now you know the reason for our meeting together, Ravenscroft, perhaps you will allow us all to leave and go our own separate ways,’ said Anstruther rising from his seat.
