‘I’m telling you how I feel, that’s all. I’m a doctor, like you, and I didn’t become a doctor to make a fortune.’

Cummings threw back his head and laughed. ‘Ha! That’s rich, coming from you. Left a manor house by your auntie, and a small private income. When have you ever had to struggle, eh? When have you ever wondered where the next meal was coming from?’

‘That really isn’t the point.’

‘Oh, yes it is!’ Cummings was getting into his stride. ‘It’s exactly the point. You’ve always looked down on me because of my background. You with your Cambridge education and your flower-bedside manner. You never could stomach the fact that I was the senior member of the practice–apart from Reggie Silverwood–and much good he was.’

‘That’s rubbish and you know it. And Reggie Silverwood was a good doctor who cared for his patients.’

‘And are you saying that I don’t?’

‘I’m saying that you’re not even handed. And while we’re on the subject of Reggie, what happened on Thursday?’

Cummings was caught off guard. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Reggie rang me. There was something wrong. He wasn’t himself.’

‘Probably been at the bottle.’

‘You know Reggie never touched the stuff until after hours. Ever.’

‘What then?’

‘Had he rumbled you, Randall?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Anyway, there’s not much point in talking about it now, is there? Not after his accident. It’s very sad. But there we are. Had a better innings than most, just bloody bad luck.’

‘You’re sure it was just bad luck?’

‘Of course I am. Had a heart attack and lost control. Not unusual in a man of his age.’

‘Well, the post-mortem will confirm whether it really was an accident.’

‘Post-mortem? What post-mortem?’

‘I’m going to speak to the coroner. To ask for one. Just to make sure.’

Randall Cummings coloured up again, this time it looked as if he might actually burst a blood vessel. ‘Just exactly what are you implying?’

‘I don’t know, Randall. I just want an easy conscience, that’s all. I’d like to be able to sleep at night knowing that I’d done all I could.’

‘All you could to what?’

‘Save lives.’

‘You sanctimonious bugger. Get out!’