There was a silence while Miss Overton digested this information. At last, she said, “I hope you’ll be able to bring this affair to a speedy end, and one that is satisfactory to the school. Now, some time ago you asked me a question about keys, and this I can now answer. As far as the Bursar is concerned, when Mr. Cartwright does any work in the school, he is issued with the keys he needs and he returns them when the job is completed. We have no reason to suppose there are any of the school keys permanently in his possession. I hope this information will help. I won’t keep you any longer, but I do hope to hear from you soon.”

Thus dismissed, they left hastily. “She reduces me so,” complained Cordelia. “I simply can’t respond to her. You amaze me, you stay so composed.”

“All a front, I assure you. Inside, I feel fourteen and guilty as hell. I feel she can read my mind; she knows exactly what I want to do with you!”

Slowly they walked back to Longnor, discussing their plans for Anthony Barrington. They decided that Lindsay should phone his weekend cottage to try to find out if and when he would be there. Back in Paddy’s rooms, she dialed the number. On the third ring, the phone was answered by a woman who sounded middle-aged.

“Llanagar 263,” she said with a strong Welsh accent.

“Hello,” said Lindsay, “is Mr. Barrington there?”

“I’m sorry,” said the voice, “he’s gone out on the hills.”

“Oh, that’s a pity,” said Lindsay. “I had hoped to catch him. Do you know what time he’ll be back?”

“He’s usually back about four this time of year. Who shall I say called, please?”

“Oh, it doesn’t matter. I’ll call again later,” Lindsay replied, hanging up before she could be questioned further. “I think I got the cleaning woman,” she said to Cordelia. “He’ll be back around four. Shall we shoot over there this evening? I’d like to see Paddy again this afternoon. How long do you reckon it will take to get to his place?”

“I suppose between two and three hours driving; I’m game if you are.”

They smiled at each other and began to prepare for their various morning activities.

PART FOUR:
FINALE

17

Cordelia left just after nine-thirty to drive the hockey team in the school minibus to the pavilion on the threatened playing fields. As she drove, she mused on the irony of a conservation policy that meant the town had nowhere to expand, being surrounded by Country Park and National Park. The result was that any piece of land inside the boundaries immediately shot up in value so fast that soon there would be no green left inside the town at all except pocket-handkerchief gardens.