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am at a loss, Mrs Westerman. We can, of course, enquire in the villages to see if any stranger has been seen over the last two nights, and if anything might have given rise to reasonable suspicion. This is beyond all my experience, I am afraid. Dear madam, we are old friends so I shall not scruple to announce myself deeply uneasy. Enquiries must be made, indeed. The ring is a confusing factor; it darkens matters, darkens them considerably. Did the family have any knowledge of Alexander’s whereabouts over these past years?’

    ‘I have heard of none.’

    ‘There have been rumours,’ the Squire said, ‘mostly centred on London. I have not heard the matter discussed at the Hall. Well, the Coroner and his jury must be summoned. May I borrow one of your lads to show me the spot, and I shall view the body, of course, and dash off a note or two. A sad business indeed.’ He turned to Crowther. ‘And are you willing, sir, to make the necessary examinations of the body? We would be most grateful.’ Crowther bowed.

    The Squire beamed. ‘Of course, of course. Capital. Good fellow.’

    ‘And who is the Coroner?’ Harriet asked.

    The Squire spoke as much to the fireplace as to either of his companions, and scratched absently behind his wig as he did so.

    ‘Oh, a mean little man from near Grasserton. He took on the duties to add lustre to his lawyering. He’ll hold his session tomorrow afternoon at the Bear and Crown, I imagine. I’ll have to ask you to attend, my dear. And no doubt one of the jurors will write it all up for the London papers - they always do, these days. So sorry.’

    Harriet put her hand on the Squire’s sleeve.

    ‘No matter, sir. Will you be able to dine with us when we have finished examining the body?’ If Harriet noticed the flick of the Squire’s eyes at the suggestion that she would be examining the body with Crowther, she gave no sign of it. ‘I believe Mrs Heathcote intends for us to be at table at four. If Mrs Bridges can spare you, of course.’

    The Squire immediately brightened again. ‘Why! If I get sufficiently detailed news for her of yourself and your doings, she will gladly spare me most of the evening! I will go to the Coroner and arrange for the jury to be summoned.’

    Harriet touched the bell, and Dido appeared to lead him away.

    The Squire turned to Crowther. ‘Your servant, sir,’ he said, and left the room with a bow.

I.6

    W HILE THE SQUIRE began to marshal the limited resources of the law - himself, the Coroner and a Constable chosen by the local parishioners as the person least likely to give them any trouble - Harriet led Crowther out of the house and towards the body. They turned in at a collection of outbuildings, and passing by the current generous stables, Harriet took him to a smaller building in the corner of the yard which had housed the horses of Caveley Park in earlier times. It was a large open space, the north and south walls each partitioned into three empty stalls, and with a large unglazed window to the east with the shutters thrown back. The raw beams rose, ghostly, into the shadow of the roof ’s incline, and the stone flags under their feet were patterned by the heavy sunlight from the window and door. Motes of dust and straw shifted in the air. Odd pieces of tackle still hung from huge iron nails driven between the stalls, and the air tasted of lavender and old leather. In the central space in front of them a long table had been set, used normally in the yard for holiday and harvest feasts, Crowther supposed. Now the body was laid out on it, decently covered in a white linen sheet. It looked like an offering. There were cloths, a wide bowl and ewer on a bench under the window.

    Crowther placed a hand to his brow and exhaled. When he opened his eyes again, he found Harriet’s gaze on him, her head tilted to one side.

    ‘Forgive me, but you look very tired, Mr Crowther.’

    ‘I am, Mrs Westerman. It is my habit to work at night, and keep