Indeed, almost before Pons had finished speaking Hardcastle, his eyes bright and anxious was sitting down before Sir Clive's desk. That worthy was considerably irritated when Solar Pons calmly rose from his seat.
"I think I have seen and heard enough here for the moment, Sir Clive. We may safely leave this important matter in your hands. As for myself, if Superintendent Heathfield would be so kind, I should like to see the Polar bear enclosure and the other sites of the incidents under examination today."
"Very well, Mr Pons."
Sir Clive was evidently disgruntled and his face was pink. I saw the secretary Conrad Foster bent over his notebook. He flashed me a secret smile while still turned away from the peppery little man at his side.
Superintendent Heathfield rose and excused himself. Solar Pons nodded affably toward our client.
"Just answer the questions to the best of your ability, Hardcastle, and you will have nothing to fear. Come, Parker."
And he led the way from the room.
5
"But you have learned nothing yet, Pons," I protested as we descended the stairs.
"On the contrary, Parker, I have learned a great deal,' said my companion, lighting his pipe as we followed the tall form of the Superintendent out into the gardens The rain had stopped now but the mist persisted and I turned up my coat collar and followed the faint chair of sparks left by Pons' pipe as he hurried forward.
"Sir Clive's examination will lead only to a great deal of repetition. I have already come to some firm conclusions on this affair and would prefer to test them on the ground. I think I can leave it to Stebbins' commonsense to draw to my attention any anomalies in the attendants statements and no doubt Hardcastle will have his own interests at heart."
"You surprise me, Pons."
"The day I do not, Parker, I shall think my grip is slipping."
"Come, Pons," I said, a little put out. "For instance what about all these past incidents?"
"Nothing simpler, my dear fellow. I shall visit each site in turn and make my own observations on the spot The Superintendent has every detail at his finger-tips And then I shall want to see Hardcastle's lady-friend tomorrow."
"Lady-friend, Pons?"
Solar Pons chuckled as we followed Heathfield through the mist in the direction of the main-gate and he Polar bear enclosure.
"The girl, Alice, who warned him that he was under suspicion. She sounds a quick-witted young woman. I have no doubt she will have some ideas of her own bout this matter."
"Despite your remarks, Pons, you continue to surprise me."
"Ah, Parker, there is nothing like a woman's intuition in these affairs. Their minds often retain the most surprising information. But here we are at our destination." We had arrived at Mappin Terrace and Superintendent Heathfield led the way to the Polar bear enclosures, towering concrete structures, separated from the public by a deep artificial chasm in front of the viewing galleries. We walked up a series of steps to where a group of constables stood with portable electric lights whose thick cables snaked away into the darkness. Pons hurried forward and examined the heavy padlock and chains which were lying on the ground. A great white form lumbered by in the darkness beyond the bars and I glanced apprehensively at Heathfield. He smiled wryly.
"We are in no danger, Dr Parker. The Zoo authorities have placed temporary padlocks on this enclosure. The material on the ground here was used to secure the entrance door. It is lying just as it was found."
"Excellent, Superintendent. You have excelled yourself."
Solar Pons bent to one knee. He had his magnifying ass out and examined the lock carefully.
"Opened with a key. You have dusted for prints, I see?"
The Superintendent inclined his head.
"Nothing, Mr Pons. He was wearing gloves." Solar Pons smiled at me wryly.
"A cunning fellow, evidently, Parker. But this follow: the pattern. Flimsy material smashed. Massive defence: unlocked."
"I am sure I do not know what you mean, Pons." "Just think about it, Parker."
My companion turned to the Superintendent. "One bear only was involved?"
"Fortunately, Mr Pons. The animal was seen moving off down the ramp to the Zoo but was tackled with commendable courage by a junior keeper, Carstairs. He attempted to corner it with a pitchfork, but it attacked and savaged him. The attendants managed to keep it a bay, penning it with rope, hurdles and netting and whet my own people arrived they had to shoot it."
"I see."
Solar Pons stood in thought for a moment.
"It will probably tell us very little but I should like to look at the carcase. Then I think a little visit to the Lion House would be in order, if it can be arranged." "Certainly, Mr Pons. Sir Clive has assigned to us member of the Zoo staff who has most of the master keys."
"Excellent."
"The corpse of the bear is in the dispensary quarters, Mr Pons. It is on the way back to the Lion House."
I followed my two companions as they hurried of down toward the Gloucester Gate entrance while thickset, amiable-looking man in Zoo uniform, evidently the person with the keys mentioned by the Superintendent, followed on behind. Heathfield led the way to a large block of brick buildings which rose from a yard set beside some of the small mammal houses. There was the pungent smell given off by wild animals mingled with disinfectant as we crossed the yard, from which came the sound of a hose-pipe sluicing water over cement.
The corpse of the bear, partly dissected, was lying on a stone slab raised up from the floor under a powerful electric light in a corner of an enormous, bare, whitewashed room.
"I did not think it necessary to have the veterinary surgeons on call tonight, Mr Pons," said Heathfield. Solar Pons shook his head.
'They could add nothing and I presume that in any event you have their reports."
"Certainly, Mr Pons. But with today's near tragedy I felt it essential that we press on with the investigation with the utmost despatch before something more serious occurs."
"It seems difficult to imagine anything more serious," I observed, looking at the huge, blood-stained mass of the bear.
"Polar bears and tigers are serious enough. But I take it you were referring to fatalities."
"Certainly, doctor. It will be only a question of time before this ends in tragedy. The keeper attacked by the bear was badly savaged but is out of danger, I understand."
"Thank heaven for that," I said. "What are your findings there, Pons?"
I went round to stand with my companion as he went over the bear's claws with his powerful lens.
"Precious little, Parker. I did not expect to find anything. But the basic rule of detection is to make a thorough examination, however unlikely it may be to yield anything. One occasionally comes across surprises."
He bent over the blood-stained front paws of the colossal beast.
"Hullo!"
There was excitement in his voice.
"What do you make of this, Parker?"
Superintendent Heathfield was standing at the far end of the room now, chatting with the attendant and we were temporarily alone.
"It looks like a length of thread, Pons."
"Does it not? Perhaps from the uniform of the attacked keeper. However, I think I shall just retain it for the moment. One never knows when it may come in useful."
And he picked out the short length of grey thread and placed it carefully in one of the little envelopes he kept specially for the purpose. The examination was soon concluded and we walked back down toward the Superintendent.