Sir Clive looked sourly at my companion and then round at the faces of Superintendent Heathfield and Stebbins. He shuffled a bundle of papers he held in his hands.
"These are my conclusions, Mr Pons. The deposition of the staff members concerned in this weird business Plus my reasoned notes on the matter."
Solar Pons smiled bleakly.
"Save them for the Council and the Society's official journals, Sir Clive. It would take us all day to go through those. Pray be more selective."
Sir Clive's face turned purple and Heathfield had sudden choking attack which he cured by an instant draught of coffee. Sir Clive drew his lips into a thin line and glared at me instead.
"Very well, Mr Pons. A disgruntled former employee, of the Zoo, perhaps. We have had occasion to discharge three within the past two years."
Solar Pons looked interrogatively at the military figure of the Superintendent.
"It is a possibility, Sir Clive," he said reluctantly. "Let us hear what the Superintendent has to say."
Heathfield shook his head.
"We have already checked, Mr Pons. One man has gone abroad; the other two live far out of London." "They have been questioned?"
"Oh yes. There is no doubt that they are in the clear. Solar Pons' piercing eyes rested briefly on Stebbins "All the same I should like to have Mr Stebbins’s opinion."
The burly Head Keeper shook his head.
"This business has nothing to do with them, Mr Pons, that I'll swear. They haven't the character for a business like this. A nasty mind is behind this, Mr Pons."
"I am inclined to agree with you, Stebbins," said Sob Pons languidly. "What do you think of young Hardcastle, now?"
The Head Keeper shook his head again, more doggedly than before.
"I can't believe it, Mr Pons. The Zoo has never had a more loyal employee among the uniformed staff." "You make a distinction, then?"
Stebbins looked sharply at Pons.
"I speak as I find, sir. The uniformed staff come under my jurisdiction. I have no knowledge of the scientific, clerical and other personnel. Even if I had it would not be my place to criticise."
Sir Clive had little pink spots on his cheeks.
"Well said, Stebbins," said Solar Pons warmly. "I am sure I shall find your advice invaluable."
He looked at his watch.
"If you have no objection, Sir Clive, I would like to see the rest of the cages and houses where the other incidents took place. Then a little lunch would not come amiss."
"Certainly, Mr Pons. There is an excellent restaurant in the Zoo grounds. You would be welcome to partake of my hospitality here. Or the Fellows' Restaurant could be put at your disposal."
"It is too good of you, Sir Clive," said Solar Pons, rising to his feet. "But we have already caused considerable disruption in your routine. If Parker has no objection, I would prefer to lunch at the public restaurant at a time which suits. Will you join us, Superintendent?"
"Certainly, Mr Pons."
"That is settled, then. Shall we say half-past one? Come, Parker."
And Solar Pons led the way out of the room so swiftly that I was hard put to keep up with him.
7
"Ah, there you are, Hardcastle!"
The shadows had lifted from our client's face and now he hurried toward us down the length of the Lion House, a slim, fair-haired girl at his heels. It was late afternoon and after an excellent lunch Pons and I had spent an hour with Heathfield, touring the houses where the other incidents had taken place.
"Allow me to introduce my fiancée, Miss Alice Westover, Mr Pons."
"Delighted, Miss Westover."
Pons glanced at the girl and then his gaze rested briefly on the knots of thickly-clad people who had gathered in the warmth of the Lion House to see the animals.
"You have a fair crowd for such a day, I see."
"Average, Mr Pons. The big cats attract the public at almost any time of the year."
"So I should imagine."
Pons looked the girl in the eye.
"What do you think of all this, Miss Westover?"
The girl moved protectively toward the young keeper and linked her arm through his.
"He is certainly innocent, Mr Pons," she said stoutly. Solar Pons looked at her reflectively, noting the smart tailored suit and the chic hat with its gaily-coloured feathers.
"You are most loyal, Miss Westover. But in any event I do not think there is much doubt of your fiancé's innocence."
"I am glad to hear it from your own lips, Mr Pons," the girl said gravely.
We had moved unconsciously down the great hall, where the restless denizens continued their tireless pacing and Pons stared rather pointedly at the girl I thought. Though Hardcastle was oblivious of my companion's scrutiny, it was not lost upon his companion, who had little points of fire dancing on her cheeks.
"Have you heard anything, Mr Pons?"
"We progress, Hardcastle, we progress."
"I cannot rest, Mr Pons, until this stigma is removed from my good name."
"Have patience, Hardcastle. We shall soon be at the root of the matter."
Pons looked up sharply.
"Ah, there is Hodgson. I think he wants you, Hardcastle."
The girl bit her lip and flushed as Hardcastle hurried down the Lion House to where the burly figure of the senior Keeper stood. From what I could make out they seemed to be arguing about something.
"Your fiancé and Hodgson do not get on very well, I think," said Solar Pons shrewdly, his deep-set eyes studying the girl's face.
"I really do not know, Mr Pons."
"Do you not, Miss Westover?"
I moved away a little awkwardly and stood back a few Feet, almost out of earshot, until Pons motioned me across.
"There is nothing private about this, Parker. I wish you to hear."
"As you please, Pons. Though I must confess I am all it sea."
"Nevertheless, Parker, I would prefer you to stay. We may talk unobserved in this corner. Jealousy is a dreadful thing, Miss Westover. It may provoke all sorts of unexpected events. Including violence born of frustrated rage."
The girl's face turned white. She looked over Pons' shoulder toward the far end of the Lion House where the two keepers were still engrossed in conversation. She turned back to my companion.
"You know something, Mr Pons?"
"Let us say I suspect something, Miss Westover. Something involving you and Hardcastle and Hodgson. Am I right?"
The girl bit her lip again.
"There was no harm in it, Mr Pons," she said sullenly. "Though I do not know how you could have guessed."
"Intuition combined with sharp eyesight, Miss Westover. I have no doubt you saw no harm in it, but great harm has flowed from it."
The girl's eyes were open and tears glimmered on her lashes.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Mr Pons." Solar Pons shook his head.
"That is certainly true, my dear young lady. But I advise you to break off the association without delay as the man concerned will shortly be in considerable trouble."
He put his fingers to his lips.
"Your fiancé is coming back, Miss Westover. Absolute discretion?"
The girl nodded, her face still white.
"Absolute discretion, Mr Pons. And thank you." Solar Pons smiled thinly.
"Learn to profit by the experience, Miss Westover. I am an excellent judge of human nature and you will not do better than young Hardcastle."
And saluting the pair of them, for Hardcastle had now come up with us, he moved away toward the entrance of the Lion House. As soon as we were out of earshot I caught him by the arm.
"What on earth was all that about, Pons?"
"Just a little well-meant advice, Parker. I think the young lady will have profited by the lesson."
"I wish I knew what you were talking about, Pons," I grumbled.
"Patience, Parker, patience. All will be explained in due course. But I must confess that one thing still puzzles me. I now have two distinct strands but no possible motive for the second."
Solar Pons paused and looked at my thunderstruck face before bursting into laughter.
"Really, Parker, your features present an indescribable picture! But it is almost dusk. I suggest we use the passes with which Sir Clive has furnished us and remain in the grounds until after dark. Let us just give it an hour. Perhaps we can spend the time in one of the heated tropical houses because the night promises to be cold."
We were outside now and the air was indeed biting. "But what on earth are we going to do, Pons?"
My companion stared at me, his lean, feral features alight with excitement.
"I have the feeling that something that should have happened has not yet happened. Call it a sixth sense if you will. But I am rarely wrong. A number of incidents have occurred, some trivial, some serious. In my opinion they are but stage-dressing for something else."
My puzzlement must have been evident on my features for Pons slowed his walk and looked at me with wry affection.
"My dear Parker, I do not know what will happen or where danger will strike. The Zoo grounds are large and extensive, the houses and animal enclosures numerous and complicated. But I should feel more at ease if you would stay with me for an hour or two."
"Certainly, Pons," said I. "But if we are going to hang about in the cold I suggest we first repair to the restaurant or the Fellows' dining room. There is an excellent bar there and I have a first-rate prescription for keeping out the cold."
Solar Pons chuckled.
"There are unsuspected depths to you, Parker. Sometimes it is difficult to remember you are a physician."
And with which sardonic comment he set off at a brisk pace across the grounds.