“I’ve been wondering, Inspector, if we can come in the morning for poor Mother’s body. I do hope… I hope, indeed… that Doctor Lofty didn’t think it necessary to mutilate it. Mary, my sister, has been most upset. You will forgive her for being a trifle brusque, won’t you?”

“Naturally, Miss Answerth.”

“You see, Inspector, we often read of these dreadful things in the newspapers, and then when we are ourselves involved in such a tragedy we are horrified that anything of the kind could enter our lives. You will understand, I’m sure. We hate to think of poor Mother lying cut up on a cold slab or something. It’s just too grim. You will let us come for her in the morning?”

“Regretfully, Miss Answerth, I am unable to make a decision,” Bony told her. “However, I shall be calling on you at nine tomorrow morning, and may be able to advise you.”

“Oh!” There was a distinct pause. “You wish to come here?”

“To make a few enquiries. Formality, you understand.”

“Yes, of course, Inspector. How silly of me to be shocked by the idea of a visit from a detective-inspector. I will arrange that the boat is ready to bring you. You see, the causeway is dangerous to anyone who doesn’t know just where the deep holes are. It’s under water. We can easily wade over it, but as the water is often coloured, strangers cannot see it and would step into a deep hole for sure.”

“Very well, Miss Answerth. At nine in the morning.”

“You really could not decide to let us have the body… in the morning?”

“No.”

The negative reply was softly but stressfully given, and the voice from the Answerth house betrayed nothing of disappointment when the conversation terminated.

“Your opinion of Janet Answerth?”Bony asked Mawson.

“Very nice little woman,” replied the constable.“Much younger than the other, more civilized. Reminds me somehow of a little moorhen. Quite a good type, I think.”

“Are you married?” Bony blandly asked.