Ann Granger by The Companion Page B

indeed?’ and I knew he was thinking as I was. Abruptly he asked, ‘Do you know what kind of houses those were in Agar Town?’
    I stared at him and shook my head.
    ‘They were some of the worst slums in London, and that is saying something.’

    ‘Josiah was – Mrs Parry still is – a slum landlord?’ I gasped. This comfortable house with its luxurious furnishings, the ‘good English table’ and my forty pounds a year, all this was funded by poor people living in wretched slums? The food I had eaten that day felt heavy in my stomach. Everything about me seemed tainted. I thought I would be sick.
    ‘Please, sit down!’ Ross urged me and led me to the wing chair. I was happy to collapse into it. ‘I am so sorry,’ he said abjectly. ‘I should not have told you that on top of everything else.’
    ‘No, it’s right I should know,’ I whispered. I managed to rally and got to my feet, albeit a little unsteadily. ‘You must go now, Inspector.’
    ‘Yes, yes,’ he said, moving towards the door.
    Simms was standing outside with the visitor’s hat at the ready. I was not surprised. I wondered if he had heard anything through the panels but they were solid enough and I doubted it.
    He greeted our appearance with, ‘I will see the officer off the premises, Miss Martin!’
    I thought Ross might be angered by the butler’s words, intended as they were to put both of us in our places. But he only looked amused.
    ‘Goodbye to you, Miss Martin,’ he said with a bow.
    ‘Goodbye, Inspector Ross.’
    I managed the farewell with tolerable composure and walked to the far end of the hall. I waited there until Simms returned from having seen the intruder safely off the premises. It was to be his turn to be surprised.
    ‘Ah, Simms,’ I said. ‘The inspector brought some very sad and shocking news. It seems poor Miss Hexham has been murdered.’
    I had the satisfaction of seeing Simms lose all countenance. He gaped at me. ‘Murdered, miss?’
    ‘Yes. There will be a police officer coming here to question the staff. Do prepare them for it, will you? He will be particularly anxious to know where Miss Hexham went after leaving this
house, so if anyone has any idea at all, the officer should be told.’
    Simms nodded, swallowed and uttered a gurgled noise which I interpreted to mean he would tell the staff.
    I thanked him and added a request that he bring the Madeira wine to the sitting room as Mrs Parry was probably in need of a restorative. Simms rallied at being given this order.
    ‘I’ll do it at once, Miss Martin.’
    I went back upstairs to do my duty by my employer. My mind was in turmoil and it was not only on account of Madeleine Hexham.

Chapter Six
    IT WAS some little time after Inspector Ross’s departure before Aunt Parry, having taken two glasses of the Madeira, retired to her bedroom, there to lie down and allow Nugent to minister to her with a cologne compress. Before that she expressed herself at great length and forcefully on the subject of Madeleine Hexham.
    She was sorry, of course, to hear she had perished so horribly but what was one to expect? Dr Tibbett had been right. The girl had fallen into bad company with dire results. Whatever would Mrs Belling say? She would be highly embarrassed and would, of course, blame her friend in Durham who had found Madeleine in answer to Mrs Belling’s request, made on behalf of her friend, Mrs Parry. Mrs Belling’s correspondent had shown a very poor judgement in recommending the girl. To think she, Aunt Parry, had taken the girl under her roof and shown her every kindness. Now, no doubt, the lady in Durham, to cover her own shortcomings, would blame Mrs Parry for not keeping a stricter eye on Madeleine.
    What Aunt Parry did not say, but what occurred to me, was that this very much resembled the game of ‘musical chairs’ which children play at parties. Everyone seeks a refuge and no one wishes to be caught out when the pianist stops playing. Now the music had