She knocked on a heavy wooden office door and went in, shutting the door behind her. When she had asked for George’s name, she had written it in a big desk diary. Very quickly he turned the pages of the diary to 7 September, the Friday before Charlie had gone north to look at the canal boats. At the head of the page was written C. Todd. Underneath, she had written a large question mark. When the girl returned, the diary was back in its right place on the desk.

“Mr. Todd doesn’t think that he’ll be able to help you,” she said doubtfully, “ but he says that he’ll see you.”

“Thank you. And you are quite sure that Charles Todd had no meeting with his brothers in recent weeks?”

“Quite sure,” she said firmly.

The writing in the diary had been in her hand. She had been told to lie. He wondered who else had been to see the Todds on that Friday.

Laurence Todd was obviously nervous. He was not used to dealing with strangers. He was not sure what to do.

“I really don’t think that I can help you,” he said immediately. “Perhaps we had better wait for my brother, Ernest.”

He had risen from his seat as George entered, and remained now awkwardly leaning against his desk. He did not offer a seat to Palmer-Jones, who stood just inside the door, more at home in the room than its owner. George said nothing and Laurence continued, stammering slightly and rushing his words.

“You see, our solicitor deals with all the legal details.”

“I understood that William Marshall was your solicitor. I hardly liked to disturb him at a time like this.” In contrast to Laurence, George’s words were incisive, reproving.

“No, of course, I see.” Laurence was apologizing. He blushed. “But Ernest consulted with Mr. Marshall. I’m expecting him at any time. If you don’t mind waiting I’m sure that he’ll talk to you as soon as he comes in. I’ll ask Marie to make you some coffee.”

But George seemed not to hear. He pulled up a straight-backed chair and sat on it. He smiled reassuringly at Laurence, who sank into the lower chair behind his desk. Anxiously Laurence blinked at him.

“I’m glad of the opportunity to speak to you, while we wait,” George said. “I wanted to tell you how grateful I was, how grateful all the observatory members were, to Charles for his generosity. We would never have been able to establish the observatory without his help.”

Laurence seemed confused. He muttered incomprehensibly. Finally: “ Thank you,” he blurted. “ Thank you very much. I’ll tell Ernest.”

“We will miss Charles so much,” George continued. He was beginning to feel sorry for the little man floundering behind the big desk, but he had only a limited time and Ernest might not be so easy to intimidate. “ Unfortunately I didn’t get to the island in time to see him this weekend, but I was in Gillicombe last week, on the Friday, and I saw him then. Perhaps he had come to see you?”