A Lesson in Secrets_ A Maisie Dobbs Novel - Jacqueline Winspear [82]
“Yes, I was told when I arrived this morning. Do you know what it’s about?”
“Apparently, the college will be closing from Wednesday until next Monday. Those dreadful policemen—the Scot and the other one—have been making it rather difficult to continue teaching while they conduct their inquiries. So, staff will be expected to furnish classes with sufficient homework to last until next week, though I am sure our students will welcome the opportunity to enjoy the last of the summer.”
“Isn’t the memorial service for Dr. Liddicote on Sunday?”
“Yes, it is. And the debate team will continue to practice in the interim.”
Maisie looked for some sort of reaction, something that would reveal how Thomas felt about the debate. There was none, so she continued.
“I don’t think Dr. Liddicote liked the idea of the debate.”
“Did he tell you that?
Lifting a forkful of the milky cod, Maisie feigned indifference. “I was waiting outside his office and heard him talking about it. He seemed far from enthusiastic to me—but then, I didn’t know him as well as other members of staff.” She thought her words must sound as bland as the cod tasted.
“Greville Liddicote hated the idea of the debate, Miss Dobbs. He did not want our college to be involved.”
Maisie set down her knife and fork and reached for her glass of water. “Why do you think he didn’t want us to take part? He wanted the college to be taken seriously by the Cambridge academic establishment, and on the face of it, the debate offers the ideal opportunity. I’m a bit confused on that score.”
Francesca Thomas sat back and looked at Maisie. “Greville was no fool, Miss Dobbs. The topic is one that will bring out a lot of spectators—the debates usually draw a goodly number, in any case. But this is one that he didn’t want to take part in, did not want the college to be involved with, because he did not want to support any gathering where the name of our college would be allied with an issue he found controversial. The university is a powerful academic institution and can weather the storms of speculation—indeed, it thrives on having the cat among the pigeons. But this is a small college, a college dependent upon funds brought in from people—wealthy benefactors—who share our ethos. The party of Herr Adolf Hitler is not an ideal representative of peace and inclusion.”
“But surely our team’s performance will reflect what the College of St. Francis stands for.”
Thomas shook her head. “I do believe you are playing devil’s advocate with me, Miss Dobbs. If not, I can only say that you are pressing a naïve point of view. If anything negative is allied to our institution, then we stand to lose donations. This college will not survive without a healthy stream of money coming in.”
Maisie felt her color rise. “But isn’t Dunstan Headley one of the main funders? And his son is on the debating team.”
“Another huge error.”
“Because it smacks of nepotism?”
“No, Miss Dobbs.” Francesca Thomas stood up and collected the pile of books sitting alongside her place at the table. “Because Robson Headley is a Nazi, and while it may seem fashionable at the present time, I believe it will prove to demonstrate very, very poor judgment in years to come. And young Headley has his father wrapped around his little finger, even though he knows what’s going on, and does not like it at all. Now, if you will excuse me, I’d like to get a breath of fresh air before the assembly.”
Maisie pushed her plate away as Thomas left the room, and took a sip from her glass of water.
“Did one of Medusa’s snakes just have a snap at you?” Alan Burnham drew back a chair and sat down in front of Maisie. “Don’t let Francesca Thomas ruin your lunch, though given that tasteless cod, it seems to me there wasn’t much to ruin. Dr. Thomas is a forceful woman and can be strong when she’s voicing an opinion, but she’s one of the very best teachers here.”
“Thank you. She was simply explaining why she thought the debate was a poor idea, especially as Dr. Liddicote did not want it to go ahead.”
“Nonesense. Of course he