to pain.
‘Mrs Antrobus has provided me with a list of her husband’s friends. It was a very short list, I am afraid, and I was hoping you might know of any business associates who could provide me with some information.’
‘I will do my best,’ he offered, ‘but I fear my list will also be short.’ He took up pen and paper and wrote down the names of a number of suppliers and customers. ‘Not that any of these men would have meant him harm. None would have profited from my partner’s absence and most would not have been in either Bristol or London at the time he disappeared.’ Frances looked at the list, which included the men the Bristol detective had already interviewed and a few others with businesses in London he had not.
‘I understand that Mr Wylie has approached you with a proposal to merge your interests?’
‘Yes, he has. We have had a number of discussions on the subject, he has examined our accounts and is pleased with what he has seen.’
‘Is this something that might have occurred if Mr Antrobus was still a partner?’
‘Hmm,’ pondered Luckhurst. ‘That is a very good question, and I can’t say that I know the answer. I had never met Wylie until a year ago, although Edwin often mentioned him.’
‘You never went to Bristol on business?’
‘I have never been there for any reason.’
‘Did you ever encounter a Mr Dromgoole?’
‘No, although the name is familiar. Was he not the doctor who claimed that tobacco was the cause of ear diseases? Antrobus is not a violent man, but even he said that the fellow needed a good whipping. You don’t think he may have had something to do with this?’
‘No, I am sure he did not; I had hoped he might be able to help me with information, but his mind has become clouded. Do you know a lady called Adeline?’
‘I do not. Is she young and pretty?’ he added, hopefully.
‘I’m afraid I know nothing about her except her name. But if you should hear anything at all that might help me please do let me know at once.’
‘It will be my pleasure,’ said Luckhurst warmly, and he eased down from his chair as she prepared to leave. He took her fingertips in his with the air of a great gallant. ‘And we will speak again, perhaps next time over a cup of tea?’
Frances could not help but find his attentions flattering. ‘Delighted.’
‘I do not think that Dr Goodwin is a Lothario,’ Frances told Sarah over supper as she looked at the list supplied by Mr Luckhurst and decided how she might best visit all those named. ‘He has his own secrets and troubles of course – there is a legal dispute with the Bayswater School for the Deaf, which I did not discuss with him – but he was a model of courtesy.’
Sarah was studying the book of signs and made a gesture with her thumb.
‘What does that mean?’ asked Frances.
‘It means I’m very pleased.’
‘He said that the signs are much used by spies, who I suppose will want to have conversations that others cannot understand. A detective and her assistant might also find it useful. Shall we see what we can learn?’
Sarah looked through the book and made another sign. ‘That means “yes”,’ she said.
Once Frances had completed her plans, which included a visit to Dr Collin, who had consented to an appointment, there followed a pleasant evening’s diversion, after which they had both managed to learn the finger alphabet and some useful signs.
‘I can see how a child might learn this very quickly,’ said Frances. ‘If a teacher makes the sign for a house and shows the child a picture of a house, and then the word “house” written down, then the child has learned to speak and read at the same time. Imagine,’ she went on, ‘the fate of children born before such a thing was devised. They would live their lives in silence, unable to speak or play a part in the world. How wonderful that there is a school to teach the signs and men like Dr Goodwin.’
Frances spent most of the
‘Mrs Antrobus has provided me with a list of her husband’s friends. It was a very short list, I am afraid, and I was hoping you might know of any business associates who could provide me with some information.’
‘I will do my best,’ he offered, ‘but I fear my list will also be short.’ He took up pen and paper and wrote down the names of a number of suppliers and customers. ‘Not that any of these men would have meant him harm. None would have profited from my partner’s absence and most would not have been in either Bristol or London at the time he disappeared.’ Frances looked at the list, which included the men the Bristol detective had already interviewed and a few others with businesses in London he had not.
‘I understand that Mr Wylie has approached you with a proposal to merge your interests?’
‘Yes, he has. We have had a number of discussions on the subject, he has examined our accounts and is pleased with what he has seen.’
‘Is this something that might have occurred if Mr Antrobus was still a partner?’
‘Hmm,’ pondered Luckhurst. ‘That is a very good question, and I can’t say that I know the answer. I had never met Wylie until a year ago, although Edwin often mentioned him.’
‘You never went to Bristol on business?’
‘I have never been there for any reason.’
‘Did you ever encounter a Mr Dromgoole?’
‘No, although the name is familiar. Was he not the doctor who claimed that tobacco was the cause of ear diseases? Antrobus is not a violent man, but even he said that the fellow needed a good whipping. You don’t think he may have had something to do with this?’
‘No, I am sure he did not; I had hoped he might be able to help me with information, but his mind has become clouded. Do you know a lady called Adeline?’
‘I do not. Is she young and pretty?’ he added, hopefully.
‘I’m afraid I know nothing about her except her name. But if you should hear anything at all that might help me please do let me know at once.’
‘It will be my pleasure,’ said Luckhurst warmly, and he eased down from his chair as she prepared to leave. He took her fingertips in his with the air of a great gallant. ‘And we will speak again, perhaps next time over a cup of tea?’
Frances could not help but find his attentions flattering. ‘Delighted.’
‘I do not think that Dr Goodwin is a Lothario,’ Frances told Sarah over supper as she looked at the list supplied by Mr Luckhurst and decided how she might best visit all those named. ‘He has his own secrets and troubles of course – there is a legal dispute with the Bayswater School for the Deaf, which I did not discuss with him – but he was a model of courtesy.’
Sarah was studying the book of signs and made a gesture with her thumb.
‘What does that mean?’ asked Frances.
‘It means I’m very pleased.’
‘He said that the signs are much used by spies, who I suppose will want to have conversations that others cannot understand. A detective and her assistant might also find it useful. Shall we see what we can learn?’
Sarah looked through the book and made another sign. ‘That means “yes”,’ she said.
Once Frances had completed her plans, which included a visit to Dr Collin, who had consented to an appointment, there followed a pleasant evening’s diversion, after which they had both managed to learn the finger alphabet and some useful signs.
‘I can see how a child might learn this very quickly,’ said Frances. ‘If a teacher makes the sign for a house and shows the child a picture of a house, and then the word “house” written down, then the child has learned to speak and read at the same time. Imagine,’ she went on, ‘the fate of children born before such a thing was devised. They would live their lives in silence, unable to speak or play a part in the world. How wonderful that there is a school to teach the signs and men like Dr Goodwin.’
Frances spent most of the
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