A Lesson in Secrets_ A Maisie Dobbs Novel - Jacqueline Winspear [124]
Maisie cleared her throat, knowing she had been put on the spot. “A sudden heart attack always leaves questions, especially when it’s someone who is well known, so a lingering inquiry isn’t unusual. And I understand the policemen concerned have other business in the city.”
The students looked at each other, while another, Frederick Sanger, voiced his opinion. “They’re probably trying to find out who upset old Liddy so much that his heart just gave out.”
“Well, they don’t have to go far for that, do they, Freddie?” said Daniel. “We all know who was upset, and who did the upsetting.”
Maisie sipped her cider, not wanting to appear too interested. She set down her glass. “Oh dear, being a lecturer means I am never privy to the real goings on that you students see—come on, put a poor teacher out of her misery and tell me who you’re talking about.” She turned to Daniel. “What’s all this about people upsetting each other? The College of St. Francis is supposed to be about peace.”
“And it is!” Another student, Rebecca Inglesson, looked at Daniel, then Frederick. “We’re all having a wonderful time being peaceful together.”
Maisie laughed, now wondering whether the comment that had piqued her interest was made in jest, or whether there was substance to it. “I take it that no one is really upset, then?”
Daniel reached for his beer and took another sip. “Oh no, there was a huge upset on the day Liddy died, wasn’t there, Fred?” He looked back at Maisie. “We were walking along the corridor, you know, towards Liddy’s office, when we saw the puppy dog coming bounding along from the opposite direction.”
“Puppy dog?” asked Maisie.
“Now you’ve done it, Danny,” said Rebecca, who had not touched her drink since Maisie had questioned the wisdom of one or two of their number being in the pub.
Daniel turned to Maisie. “You know who I mean, Miss Dobbs.” He pulled a clump of his swept-back hair over his forehead and took a pair of spectacles from the nose of another student and put them on, executing what Maisie thought a very good impression. “Puppy dog bounding to see the adored master.”
Maisie nodded. “Oh, yes, of course—don’t let any other member of staff see you do that or you will be hauled over the coals.”
“Oh, Dr. Thomas is much better than I when it comes to mimicking the puppy dog—not a lot of love lost there!”
She raised an eyebrow again, then made another attempt at pressing Daniel to continue his story. “So, what happened when you met in the corridor?”
He shook his head. “Oh, we didn’t meet, but we saw him listening at the door. He seemed very agitated, you know, flushed and angry—I really don’t think he even saw us, he was so upset. He might have been alarmed because of the shouting—it’s not what you want to hear at the college, is it? Not very peaceful, eh? Even I could hear it, and I was a few steps away—and that door is pretty heavy, but there was someone inside shouting about Ursula someone-or-other, and ‘fraud’ this and ‘fake’ that and—here’s the bit that I thought was a bit thick, ‘killer by any other name—and just for the money!’ Our puppy dog must have heard everything before the shouting stopped. Then he entered Dr. Liddicote’s room without knocking. Of course, we just went on our way, but from what I know about the time of Liddy’s heart attack, that was what must have done it. Funny, we didn’t see anyone come out, you know, before our pup went in with teeth bared.” Daniel pretended to growl, to much mirth among the students, then turned to Maisie. “I say, Miss Dobbs, I do hope I haven’t gone too far there—I’m terribly sorry if I offended you.”
Maisie smiled, though she found the expression difficult to maintain. “Not at all—I pushed you to tell.” At that point, the landlord called out to her, and she stood up to leave the group; the young men also stood as a matter of courtesy. “Now, you must all have a very good time at your dance—and, Rebecca, try to stick to something lighter than ale. I expect I’ll see you all at the service tomorrow.”
The students nodded in agreement, and made ready to leave the inn.