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By Root 450 0

stage in her teaching appointment at the college. She would miss tea after her last lesson of the day and go straight to Headley’s office. In the meantime, using college stationery she had procured from the office in a moment when it had been left unstaffed, Maisie wrote to the Registrar for Births, Marriages, and Deaths in Ipswich. She explained her dilemma—she wanted to contact a former member of staff who had left without receiving wages owed to her—and asked if he might be able to locate records pertaining to the family of Rose Linden, née Gibson—or it might have been a name beginning with “Thur.” She understood there was a sister, and possibly a nephew. Any help would be most appreciated. She also added her gratitude for the assistance already extended to her.

When she returned to the college, Maisie stopped alongside a noticeboard, situated just inside the main doors, that provided a forum for the many messages staff and students left for one another—a dance in the town, a literary salon, a meeting of the French Conversation and Appreciation Society, a warning about late homework. She had become used to casting her eyes across the many cards and scraps of paper, in case there was something of interest. A new card with bright-red lettering drew her attention, informing students that there would be an early evening practice session for the debaters, after the final class of the day. She made a note of the time and location.

The room was noisy as the debate team took their seats, with students who were not selected but would be substitutes in case of illness or absence, in the first row of the audience. Other students filled the seats, along with a few members of staff. Matthias Roth brought the students to order.

“The debate will be held in a hall that, though old, was made for debating. Expect your voices to carry, and expect to be able to hear almost every shuffle and sneeze in the hall. Your competitors will be familiar with their surroundings, but do not allow distractions to put you off your stride. Do you have any questions, ladies and gentlemen?” Matthias Roth looked back and forth across the twelve or so students before him. On the stage of the former ballroom, two tables had been set up at angles facing each other, clearly visible from the audience. Four students would sit at each table with an adjudicator at a lectern in the center.

“Dr. Burnham will moderate the first debate, so will teams one and two please take your seats?” He paused as chairs were scraped back and students made their way towards the stage. “Now we will see how well prepared you are.”

Among the students in the first team, Maisie noticed Dunstan Headley’s son taking his place. As he sat down, he looked up and grinned towards someone at the back of the room. Maisie turned and was not surprised to see him smiling at Delphine Lang, who waved in return; but instead of remaining in the hall, Lang turned and was leaving the room. As much as she wanted to view the proceedings, Maisie followed Lang out of the hall.

“Miss Lang! Miss Lang—do you have a moment?”

Delphine Lang turned to Maisie, then looked at her watch. “I have a language practice group at half past six.”

“I only need a few moments, if you can spare the time.” Maisie held out her hand towards double doors that led to the grounds. “Shall we go outside? The weather is really too good to miss.”

Delphine Lang stepped out into the balmy early evening, with the heady fragrance of jasmine on the air. “I don’t know how they get the jasmine to grow here, but it really is quite lovely,” said Lang.

“Yes, it has a lovely sweetness, doesn’t it?” said Maisie.

“What would you like to see me about, Miss Dobbs?” Delphine Lang continued walking, her voice firm but polite.

“I don’t know if you are aware, but I was called to Dr. Liddicote’s office following the discovery of his body by Miss Linden. I was a nurse once and she thought I might be able to help. I have some contacts at Scotland Yard—due to a previous job—so I called them to report the death. I believed they would have been summoned