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Montacute would not be happy until Catherwood was ruined.’
    â€˜Looks as though there was someone who had a motive for killing Montacute,’ suggested Crabb.
    â€˜Maybe. Please go on, Doctor,’ urged Ravenscroft.
    â€˜Well, that’s all, really. There is nothing else I can add. As I said,it happened before I came to the town.’
    â€˜You mentioned that there were others who had come off the worse for encountering the old man?’
    â€˜I suppose over the years, in his role as magistrate, he had sent down quite a number of the local villains. It would have been unusual if one or two of them had not sworn their revenge on the old man,’ replied Andrews.
    â€˜Anyone in particular, sir?’ asked Crabb, taking out his notebook.
    â€˜None that I can recall by name.’
    â€˜Montacute’s wife. She seems much younger than her husband,’ said Ravenscroft.
    â€˜Edith Montacute. She is Nathaniel’s third wife, I believe.’
    â€˜His third wife? Tell me about her.’
    â€˜I can’t tell you much. They married just under two years ago. After the death of his second wife, Nathaniel went on a long holiday round Europe. He was away for nearly six months. When he returned, everyone in the town was surprised to discover that he had remarried during his absence and that a new Mrs Montacute was moving into The Gables. They say he had met her in Rome. I believe her family originated from somewhere in Cheshire. Other than that, I don’t know anything else about her.’
    â€˜She’s quite an attractive woman.’
    â€˜Yes, she is certainly a striking figure – although I must admit that I have only met her on one or two occasions, and never in a professional way.’
    â€˜Am I correct in assuming that Montacute has two children from his former marriages?’ asked Ravenscroft.
    â€˜Yes. Maurice is the eldest son from Nathaniel’s first marriage. He followed his father into the family bank. Straight as they come. A banker if ever I saw one. Rather dull and dry for me. Then there is Rupert, Nathaniel’s son from his second marriage. He is rather fond of the drink and is generally regarded as a waster. Rupert and his father didn’t get on well together by all accounts. The two boys are as different as chalk and cheese.’
    â€˜I met them both last night,’ interjected Ravenscroft.
    â€˜Of course. There was also a daughter, Elizabeth, but she died long before I came to the town.’
    â€˜Tell me, Doctor Andrews, you stated that Montacute’s second wife died just over two years ago.’
    â€˜Yes, I attended her during her last illness. That was when I was first called to The Gables.’
    â€˜What was the cause of her death? I appreciate you have a confidentiality to uphold, and I respect that, but the more information you can give us regarding the family, the easier it may become for us to solve this crime,’ said Ravenscroft, sitting back in his chair.
    â€˜Enid Montacute was something of a local beauty, despite her years, and was a very popular figure in the town. She died of a fever. There was little I could do for her. I was not called in until it was too late. She died quite suddenly. It was a great loss to the town when she passed away.’
    â€˜And what does the town think of the present Mrs Montacute?’ asked Ravenscroft.
    â€˜There has been a difference of opinion,’ replied Andrews, taking out his pocket watch and looking down at the hands.
    â€˜In what way?’
    â€˜As I said, everyone was rather taken aback when old Nathaniel returned from his European excursion with his young bride, who must be a good forty years younger than her husband. Some of the townspeople were shocked. You see, Enid had been very popular in the community. It must have seemed to some as though the old man had been almost ensnared by this younger woman.’
    â€˜And what is your opinion, Doctor?’