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By Root 529 0

the same business ever since. People who don’t seem to amount to much but possibly they amount to more than we’ve ever thought. And people who’ve been in touch with the same group, as one calls it–one calls anything a group nowadays–the same group which may have different people in it now but who have the same ideas, the same love of violence and evil and the same people to communicate with elsewhere and other groups. Some groups are all right but some groups are worse because they are groups. It’s a kind of technique, you know. We’ve taught it to ourselves in the last, oh, say fifty to a hundred years. Taught that if people cohere together and make a tight little mob of themselves, it’s amazing what they are able to accomplish and what they are able to inspire other people to accomplish for them.’

‘May I ask you something?’

‘Anyone can always ask,’ said Colonel Pikeaway. ‘We know everything here but we don’t always tell, I have to warn you of that.’

‘Does the name of Solomon mean anything to you?’

‘Ah,’ said Colonel Pikeaway. ‘Mr Solomon. And where did you get that name from?’

‘It was mentioned by Inspector Norris.’

‘I see. Well, if you’re going by what Norris said, you’re going right. I can tell you that. You won’t see Solomon personally, I don’t mind telling you. He’s dead.’

‘Oh,’ said Tommy, ‘I see.’

‘At least you don’t quite see,’ said Colonel Pikeaway. ‘We use his name sometimes. It’s useful, you know, to have a name you can use. The name of a real person, a person who isn’t there any longer but although dead is still highly regarded in the neighbourhood. It’s sheer chance you ever came to live in The Laurels at all and we’ve got hopes that it may lead to a piece of luck for us. But I don’t want it to be a cause of disaster to you or to your missus. Suspect everyone and everything. It’s the best way.’

‘I only trust two people there,’ said Tommy. ‘One’s Albert, who’s worked for us for years–’

‘Yes, I remember Albert. Red-haired boy, wasn’t he?’

‘Not a boy any longer–’

‘Who’s the other one?’

‘My dog Hannibal.’

‘Hm. Yes–you may have something there. Who was it–Dr Watts who wrote a hymn beginning, “Dogs delight to bark and bite, It is their nature to.”–What is he, an Alsatian?’

‘No, he’s a Manchester Terrier.’

‘Ah, an old English Black and Tan, not as big as a Dobermann pinscher but the kind of dog that knows his stuff.’

Chapter 13

Visit from Miss Mullins

Tuppence, walking along the garden path, was accosted by Albert coming down at a quick pace from the house.

‘Lady waiting to see you,’ he said.

‘Lady? Oh, who is it?’

‘Miss Mullins, she says she is. Recommended by one of the ladies in the village to call on you.’

‘Oh, of course,’ said Tuppence. ‘About the garden, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, she said something about the garden.’

‘I think you’d better bring her out here,’ said Tuppence.

‘Yes, madam,’ said Albert, falling into his role of experienced butler.

He went back to the house and returned a few moments later bringing with him a tall masculine-looking woman in tweed trousers and a Fair Isle pullover.

‘Chilly wind this morning,’ she said.

Her voice was deep and slightly hoarse.

‘I’m Iris Mullins. Mrs Griffin suggested I should come along and see you. Wanting some help in the garden. Is that it?’

‘Good morning,’ said Tuppence, shaking hands. ‘I’m very pleased to see you. Yes, we do want some help in the garden.’

‘Only just moved in, haven’t you?’

‘Well, it feels almost like years,’ said Tuppence, ‘because we’ve only just got all the workmen out.’

‘Ah yes,’ said Miss Mullins, giving a deep hoarse chuckle. ‘Know what it is to have workmen in the house. But you’re quite right to come in yourself and not leave it to them. Nothing gets finished until the owner’s moved in and even then you usually have to get them back again to finish something they’ve forgotten about. Nice garden you’ve got here but it’s been let go a bit, hasn’t it?’

‘Yes, I’m afraid the last people who lived here didn’t care much about how the garden looked.’

‘People called Jones or something like that, weren’t they? Don