‘The body of a woman identified by Will North, myself and Farmer Daventry (who had met us and was walking with us at the time) as that of Mrs Dalby Whittier, is lying in a deep dip in one of the farmer’s fields. If Will North had not spotted a hawk, and if Mr Daventry had not decided that a sheep which he lost in the snow, and which has not been found yet, might be the reason for the hawk’s appearance, we should not have known she was there.’

‘Then you’ve actually seen the body?’

‘Yes, I have. Both men plunged down the hillside and I followed. Will has gone for the village policeman, Mr Daventry has gone for Doctor Fielding, and I’ve come back to tell you.’

‘I must ring up the inspector in Cheltenham again,’ said Jonathan. ‘We’d better have lunch at once, Deb. There may be plenty to do later on. Oh, Lord! First Bill and then …’

‘Lunch!’ said Deborah, horrified. ‘You surely can’t want lunch?’

‘Of course, chump. Get a move on,’ said Jonathan, with the brusqueness he felt was needed. ‘Damn it, we’re not going to starve! Whatever next? We may be kept busy for hours!’

CHAPTER 9

Bridge of Sighs

‘Before I pilgrim it to Rome, I will

seek – Saint Truth.’

William Langland

The inquest on Mrs Dalby Whittier was held in the village schoolroom as the day was Saturday. The schoolchildren, to their annoyance, were, of course, strictly excluded, but everyone else in the village attended the interesting and melancholy ceremony.

The coroner, Mr Baird’s lawyer from Cheltenham, was capable and precise. His jurymen, dressed in their Sunday clothes, comported themselves with the stiff dignity shown by all villagers on solemn occasions, and listened with rather anxious attention whilst the coroner gave them the usual little homily … ‘formed any previous opinion … verdict based solely on the evidence … types of witnesses … enable this poor woman to be buried …’

Evidence of identification was given by Tiny Fullalove, who slightly exaggerated his limp as he walked from his seat to the witness box.

‘When did you last see the deceased alive?’ he was asked. Tiny did not hesitate.

‘On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, December the twenty-fourth.’

‘When did you next see her?’

‘When I was first called upon to identify the body.’

Farmer Daventry was next called. He described the finding of the body. Then the doctor gave evidence.

‘I was called by John Daventry to the dip in what we call Swallow Field. There I saw the body of the deceased. She had been dead for several weeks, perhaps four and possibly for as much as six.’

‘You can’t put it nearer than that?’

‘No.’

‘Will you tell the jury what you found when you examined the body?’

‘I found that the deceased had taken poison.’

‘And that was the exact cause of death?’