The Circle of Sappho by David Lassman

claimed that he did not remember all the details, as he had not written them down, but it was a device to get suspects – and Tom had to be considered one – to repeat their ‘story’ so that any discrepancies could be investigated.
    ‘Do you mind if we sit down,’ said Tom. ‘My back is a little sore.’
    Swann nodded in agreement and the gardener briefly went into his cottage and brought out two wooden chairs. Once the men were seated Tom began to talk.
    ‘On Sunday morning Miss Jennings had told me Miss Templeton would be leaving that afternoon and so I might see her about the grounds.’
    ‘And did you see her in the grounds during the morning?’
    ‘No, I didn’t. The first time I saw her that day was when I found her body.’
    ‘I understand,’ said Swann. ‘Did you see anyone else in the grounds or did anything strange or out of the ordinary happen?’
    ‘I saw that gentleman who is staying here.’
    ‘Mr Bolton?’
    Tom nodded. ‘He wanted to know if I had seen Miss Templeton, which I had not, and then asked if I would help him look for her. I did so for a while, but then went back to my bed of sweet peas. They have to be planted in late March or…’
    ‘Is it that bed there?’ interrupted Swann, pointing in the direction of a newly turned flower bed.
    ‘Yes, that’s it.’
    ‘And you were working on that bed all morning.’
    ‘The majority of it, I suppose.’
    Swann noted that from Tom’s cottage he could see straight across the lake to the island.
    ‘But you did not see either Miss Leigh or Miss Templeton row across the lake?’
    Tom shook his head.
    ‘Where is the boat normally moored, when it is on this side?’
    ‘Over there,’ replied Tom, gesturing towards the water, ‘behind those bushes.’
    It was the same spot where Swann had stepped into it himself the day before, to be taken across to the island.
    ‘At exactly what time did Mr Bolton approach you to help him search for Miss Templeton?’
    ‘I couldn’t say, but I know it must have been near twelve o’clock.’
    ‘Why do you say that?’
    ‘Well, because not long after, Miss Jennings returned with the rest of the girls.’
    ‘And how did Mr Bolton act when you were both searching?’
    ‘What do you mean, sir?’ said Tom.
    ‘Well, did Mr Bolton seem anxious, nervous, or calm perhaps?’
    ‘Possibly a little agitated.’
    ‘Why do you say that?’
    ‘He was muttering to himself.’
    ‘What did he say?’ enquired Swann.
    ‘I don’t know. It was mumbled and also in a different language.’
    ‘A different language? Was it French?’
    ‘I don’t know what language it was, only that I did not understand it.’
    Swann nodded. ‘So when you were searching the grounds, it did not occur to you to go across to the island?’
    ‘No. It is forbidden to go there without permission from Miss Jennings.’
    ‘Did you check to see if the boat was still at its mooring this side?’
    Tom shook his head. ‘There was no need as far as I was concerned.’
    ‘Then what happened?’
    ‘As I said, I went back to the flower bed and my sweet peas.’
    ‘And you were there until Miss Jennings told you to go across to the island.’
    ‘Yes,’ nodded Tom.
    ‘But when you got to the mooring the boat was not there?’
    ‘That’s right. So I swam across on the instructions of Miss Jennings.’
    ‘Can you tell me exactly what you found when you arrived on the island?’
    ‘As you saw for yourself, there is only one way onto the island and that is on the jetty on the other side. As soon as rounded the island I saw the boat moored, so I knew someone was there. I reached the jetty and pulled myself up; the banks around the rest of the island are too steep to find a grip. Once I was on the island I began to search it. I began with the temple, which is where I saw them.’
    ‘What did you do, then?’
    Tom did not answer.
    ‘Is something wrong?’ asked Swann.
    ‘It is hard, Mr Swann, to think back on seeing them inside the