do?’ enquired Crabb.
‘Apparently all the other members of the party ran away as fast as they could, but brave Mr Cherrington just stood his ground, and raised his rifle and shot the tiger straight between the eyes, just as the beast prepared to jump on him,’ recounted Arabella becoming more and more animated.
‘Such a thrilling story,’ said Clarisa.
‘Such a brave thing to have done, don’t you think so, inspector?’
‘Indeed, ladies,’ agreed Ravenscroft.
‘Such a pity that Mr Cherrington won’t be staying with us for very much longer. The gentleman is waiting for his funds to arrive from India before returning to London,’ said Arabella.
‘So I believe,’ smiled Ravenscroft. ‘I wonder, did you ever observe Mr Cherrington and Mr Jones conversing together?’
‘No. I don’t think so. Did you ever notice them together, Clarisa?’
‘No.’
‘Thank you, ladies. I wonder if you would have a look at this letter for us,’ said Ravenscroft retrieving the envelope from his inside pocket, which he had received the previous day, and handing it over to the two ladies to read. ‘I wonder if perhaps you recognize the handwriting?’
The two sisters studied the contents of the letter intently.
‘No, I am afraid we cannot help you, inspector,’ said Arabella handing it back to Ravenscroft after some moments had elapsed.
‘Thank you. Well, we will not take up any more of your time, ladies,’ said Ravenscroft rising from the chair. ‘I must say that you have a nice collection of old photographs and ornaments – and that portrait on the wall opposite is quite fine. Who is the young man?’
‘Alas, that was poor Eustace, our brother,’ replied Arabella.
‘He died, about twenty years ago,’ added Clarisa looking away, a sad expression on her face….
‘I am sorry,’ sympathized Ravenscroft. ‘That must have been very upsetting for you both.’
‘Yes. It was rather difficult, but you have to accept these things. There was nothing we could so. So you see, inspector, we are now quite alone in this world,’ said Arabella shaking her head.
‘We will always remember him though,’ said the younger sister.
‘Yes, of course,’ said Ravenscroft realizing that his last question had caused some pain.
‘I hope that we have been of some assistance to you andyour constable?’ said Arabella recovering her composure.
‘Indeed you have, ladies. You have been most enlightening. I cannot thank you enough,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Let me show you out, inspector,’ said Arabella walking over to the door.
‘Do come again, inspector. We have so enjoyed your visit. It is not often that we get visitors,’ smiled Clarisa.
‘We will indeed. I wish you good day,’ said Ravenscroft, as he and Crabb stepped out onto the landing.
‘Delightful ladies,’ remarked Crabb.
‘Indeed, and most informative. They have provided us with several possible lines of inquiry. I think we will go and see Miss Martin next. I don’t believe that she had only a passing acquaintance with the dead man, and I would certainly like to know more about her relationship with Talbot,’ said Ravenscroft leading the way up the narrow staircase and onto the landing above.
‘She was definitely hiding something from us, sir.’
Ravenscroft knocked on the door, but received no reply. ‘Hum, she must be out at present. Let’s ask the maid as I see she is just coming down the stairs.’
‘Good morning, sir,’ said Maisie.
‘Good morning to you, miss. I wonder whether you have seen Miss Martin today?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘No sir. She has not gone out as far as I know. She was not at breakfast either.’
‘Is that unusual?’
‘No, sir. Some of the guests do not always come down to breakfast. Shall I knock again for you, sir?’
Ravenscroft nodded, and the maid tapped on the wood.
‘I think we should try to open the door,’ suggested Ravenscroft pushing down the handle.
‘You don’t think something has
‘Apparently all the other members of the party ran away as fast as they could, but brave Mr Cherrington just stood his ground, and raised his rifle and shot the tiger straight between the eyes, just as the beast prepared to jump on him,’ recounted Arabella becoming more and more animated.
‘Such a thrilling story,’ said Clarisa.
‘Such a brave thing to have done, don’t you think so, inspector?’
‘Indeed, ladies,’ agreed Ravenscroft.
‘Such a pity that Mr Cherrington won’t be staying with us for very much longer. The gentleman is waiting for his funds to arrive from India before returning to London,’ said Arabella.
‘So I believe,’ smiled Ravenscroft. ‘I wonder, did you ever observe Mr Cherrington and Mr Jones conversing together?’
‘No. I don’t think so. Did you ever notice them together, Clarisa?’
‘No.’
‘Thank you, ladies. I wonder if you would have a look at this letter for us,’ said Ravenscroft retrieving the envelope from his inside pocket, which he had received the previous day, and handing it over to the two ladies to read. ‘I wonder if perhaps you recognize the handwriting?’
The two sisters studied the contents of the letter intently.
‘No, I am afraid we cannot help you, inspector,’ said Arabella handing it back to Ravenscroft after some moments had elapsed.
‘Thank you. Well, we will not take up any more of your time, ladies,’ said Ravenscroft rising from the chair. ‘I must say that you have a nice collection of old photographs and ornaments – and that portrait on the wall opposite is quite fine. Who is the young man?’
‘Alas, that was poor Eustace, our brother,’ replied Arabella.
‘He died, about twenty years ago,’ added Clarisa looking away, a sad expression on her face….
‘I am sorry,’ sympathized Ravenscroft. ‘That must have been very upsetting for you both.’
‘Yes. It was rather difficult, but you have to accept these things. There was nothing we could so. So you see, inspector, we are now quite alone in this world,’ said Arabella shaking her head.
‘We will always remember him though,’ said the younger sister.
‘Yes, of course,’ said Ravenscroft realizing that his last question had caused some pain.
‘I hope that we have been of some assistance to you andyour constable?’ said Arabella recovering her composure.
‘Indeed you have, ladies. You have been most enlightening. I cannot thank you enough,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Let me show you out, inspector,’ said Arabella walking over to the door.
‘Do come again, inspector. We have so enjoyed your visit. It is not often that we get visitors,’ smiled Clarisa.
‘We will indeed. I wish you good day,’ said Ravenscroft, as he and Crabb stepped out onto the landing.
‘Delightful ladies,’ remarked Crabb.
‘Indeed, and most informative. They have provided us with several possible lines of inquiry. I think we will go and see Miss Martin next. I don’t believe that she had only a passing acquaintance with the dead man, and I would certainly like to know more about her relationship with Talbot,’ said Ravenscroft leading the way up the narrow staircase and onto the landing above.
‘She was definitely hiding something from us, sir.’
Ravenscroft knocked on the door, but received no reply. ‘Hum, she must be out at present. Let’s ask the maid as I see she is just coming down the stairs.’
‘Good morning, sir,’ said Maisie.
‘Good morning to you, miss. I wonder whether you have seen Miss Martin today?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘No sir. She has not gone out as far as I know. She was not at breakfast either.’
‘Is that unusual?’
‘No, sir. Some of the guests do not always come down to breakfast. Shall I knock again for you, sir?’
Ravenscroft nodded, and the maid tapped on the wood.
‘I think we should try to open the door,’ suggested Ravenscroft pushing down the handle.
‘You don’t think something has
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