The Unbelievers by Alastair Sim Page A

mental constitution. Quite the reverse. But our masters are modern men with modern notions of feminine psychology, so that’s what they’ve decided.”
    â€œSo, no interview with the widow?”
    â€œNot by you. The Chief Constable has conveyed the force’s condolences and promised every possible help in investigating the accident that led to his untimely death. He’ll handle any further communication with the Duchess.”
    â€œHe said it was an accident?”
    â€œThat’s what it says in the newspapers today. It’s what the Lord Advocate told them.”
    Burgess pushed a folded copy of ‘The Scotsman’ across the desk. Allerdyce took it and unfolded it. He ignored the front page, with its advertisements for theatre shows and drapers’ shops, and turned to the news pages inside.
    As usual, the first stories were dispatches from America. Sherman had at last taken Charleston from the Confederates, and the city had been burnt to the ground. From New Zealand came news of the continued Maori rebellion. At home, Parliament was still debating giving the vote to the better sort of artisan, and the textile mills of Galashiels and Hawick were closed for a second week by a strike. Only after these stories was there a brief news item about the Duke.
    ----
    Duke of Dornoch passes away suddenly
    His Grace the Duke of Dornoch was found dead in the grounds of the family seat, Dalcorn House, during the morning of Monday.
    It appears that he suffered from sudden cardiac failure while walking in the grounds of the House.
    His Grace, aged 56, was well known as a patron of industry, the arts and agriculture.
    He is survived by his wife Josephine, Duchess of Dornoch. There was no issue.
    The title passes to his brother, Brigadier-General Sir Frederick Bothwell-Scott, currently Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
    A full appreciation will appear tomorrow.
----
    Allerdyce folded up the paper again and passed it back across the desk.
    â€œI suppose it’s not strictly untrue, sir. After all, the Duke did suffer from cardiac failure, even if it was caused by a bullet.”
    â€œThe politicians aren’t just concerned about the Duchess’s mental welfare. They said it was important, in these inflamed times, to ensure that undesirable elements didn’t get the impression that the pillars of society could be torn down so easily. So, Allerdyce, as far as the public are concerned there’s no murder.”
    â€œAnd if there’s no murder there’s no murder investigation? Surely the politicians don’t want to leave a Duke-killer at large?”
    â€œI didn’t say that, Allerdyce. They’d like the murderer found. They’re not keen to expose the family to embarrassment in court, so they’d be content if a non-judicial way were found of securing justice.”
    â€œNon-judicial?”
    â€œCome on, man, I don’t have to explain myself. If the murderer turns out to be one of the low-life types you say the Duke was consorting with, they’d be content for them to disappear quietly rather than telling all the sordid details in court.”
    â€œWhat do you think, sir?”
    â€œI’m not an imaginative man, Inspector. I like it best when we catch criminals and send them to court.”
    â€œSo do I, sir.”
    â€œI don’t think we need to throw the laws of Scotland out of the window just yet. I’d like you, quietly and discreetly, to carry on with your investigations. Tell me when you think you’re getting somewhere and we can make a judgement about how to proceed.”
    â€œAll right, sir. But it’s going to be difficult if everyone thinks the Duke’s death was an accident.”
    â€œNot everyone, Allerdyce. The Chief has told the Duke’s brothers what happened. You can interview them if you want – but not until after the funeral. The Chief gave his word to the family that they needn’t be disturbed until