“Of course it is. But the police fellow didn’t seem to believe me. In fact, he told me that if Fairfax had been blackmailing me, that would make me a strong suspect. Nice way to treat a witness.”

“God’s sake. Was that Inspector Rennick?”

“No, another man, Sergeant Hawes, he was called. I didn’t care to argue and I’d said my piece, so I left them to it, and I’ve heard nothing more since.”

“Right,” Will said, thinking hard. “You are sure Fairfax was after money?”

Yoxall gave him a look. “He’d delved into my family history to find out the worst things he could. I don’t think he did that out of concern.”

“I meant, could it have been racialist? I’ve a friend of your colour and the things complete strangers have said to her out of pure spite—”

“You needn’t tell me. No, I don’t think so. One can tell that sort easily enough.” He drained his pint. “Anyway, if you want a reason someone might have done away with the fellow, there it is, and a rotten business all round. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No, but if you could give my regards to the Captain? I mean to Lord—er—”

“Witton, but I expect he’d be very happy with Captain Yoxall from you. I’ll do that. Actually, do you have a card?”

Will gave him one with the bookshop address. They parted with compliments, and Will went off, reflecting that he wouldn’t mind spending time with the upper crust if more of them were like that.

Chapter Six

He tried telephoning Kim when he got back to the shop. There was no answer. That was irritating, and he didn’t want to show up unheralded if Kim was still angry. He tried half a dozen times more throughout the course of the evening to no effect, cursed his erratic partner, and went to bed feeling impatient, guilty, and worried.

The next morning, Peacock answered the phone.

“Mr. Peacock? It’s Will Darling. Is he in?”

“Lord Arthur is in the bath, Mr. Darling.”

“Could you tell him I called, and I have information? Important. About Fairfax.”

He could almost hear Peacock’s ears prick up over the phone. “I will pass him that message.”

Will rang off, and went to make himself a sufficiently fortifying meal for the apology he had to make. He’d woken up thoroughly repentant for losing his temper, and chewing over Kim’s scathing remark. He didn’t think he’d gone off at Cheveley because he was uncomfortable with the upper classes—he was pretty sure it was because the arsehole had forgotten his existence and called Kim a murderer—but the words nagged at him all the same.