So decided, I put Webber’s ledger down but in my distraction I knocked over the desk’s candle. Unlit, and almost new, it looked just like those sold at the night market. Going to pick it up I noticed something marred its smooth wax surface: little pinpricks, not particularly deep.

*

I walked back to the inn, accompanied by Mayor Eder and his son, Victor. With their help I had roped off the entrance to the constable’s office and securely locked the door. There was still a small crowd of gawpers and gossipers that wouldn’t be moved by our insistence that there was nothing to see and that all was under the control of the correct authorities. They clearly believed neither to be true.

I wanted to question Victor, as he was the one who found Constable Webber’s body, which of course meant his father should be present. When I said as much, the mayor appeared surprised, and looked down at the boy as if seeing him for the first time. I brushed aside his flimsy protests of there being much to do, but as we approached the inn the mayor became quite restless.

‘We will discuss matters privately, of course, Inspector. I take it you have a room?’ he said.

‘I do, but I believe sharing a meal in the common room would set fewer tongues wagging. Are you hungry, Victor?’

The boy nodded with conviction.

We settled ourselves at one of the more privately situated tables, which reassured Eder somewhat. A number of other tables were occupied by diners, and though we drew curious glances it was no more than I had come to expect in the Horse and Hound. Mrs Lehner herself came to take our order. I was glad to see her recovered from earlier that night.

‘Sirs,’ she said, even going so far as to bob a small curtsy. ‘Are we dining tonight?’

‘I hope there is something other than beef on the menu, Mrs Lehner?’ I said.

She looked surreptitiously to the mayor, before saying, ‘The wild duck is particularly good today.’

We followed our host’s suggestion and also ordered wine, though water for Victor. Mrs Lehner lingered at our table, visibly struggling to phrase the question she so desperately wanted to ask. Rather than rescue her from this state, I felt that if the woman wanted her gossip then it should not come easy for her.

‘Is it true, what they’re saying about the constable? Is it— Does it look suspicious?’ she said, the last little more than a whisper.

‘Mrs Lehner,’ I said. ‘The—’

‘The necessary arrangements are being made, with a funeral likely by the end of the week.’ Mayor Eder had evidently recovered some of himself.

Mrs Lehner put a hand to her chest, her cheeks flushing in shock, but managing to stay on her feet this time. ‘What is the world coming to?’ she said, gazing intently at each of us in turn as if expecting a definitive answer.

‘Its end,’ Victor said.