‘That is so. We served together on a number of committees which benefited the local community.’
‘Was the trusteeship of Old Lechmere’s Almshouses one of them?’
‘Yes, both Mr. Pitzer and I were trustees, but I don’t see the relevance of all this,’ replied Gladwyn, a puzzled expression on his face.
‘I believe that Mr. Pitzer and Mr. Armitage did not agree on a number of matters regarding the almshouses?’ suggested Ravenscroft.
‘I don’t think they particularly liked one another.’
‘The Rev. Touchmore says there were certain financial irregularities concerning the finances of the almshouses.’
‘I was not aware that was the case.’
‘You cannot recall any disagreement, concerning the accounts, between the trustees and Mr. Armitage?’
‘None that I recall. Look inspector, I have been quite patient with your questioning, but I’m afraid I must insist that we now conclude this discussion. I do have patients that require my most urgent attention.’
‘Thank you Doctor Gladwyn. We won’t take up any more of your busy time,’ said Ravenscroft rising from his seat.
‘I’ll get my maid to see you out,’ said Gladwyn ringing a bell on his desk.
‘One final question Doctor Gladwyn — yesterday evening did you have cause to visit Mr. Pitzer, before Mr. Sommersby summoned you to the house?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘No. I have not visited Pitzer’s house for several weeks now. Show these gentlemen out,’ said Gladwyn addressing the maid.
‘Where were you between six and seven yesterday evening sir?’
‘I was here, with my wife.’
‘Thank you sir, we wish you good day.’
Ravenscroft and Crabb made their way out of the house and climbed back into their cab.
‘Good to be out in the fresh air again, sir,’ said Crabb taking a deep breath.
‘Doctors’ waiting rooms are often like that,’ replied Ravenscroft mounting the cab.
‘Doctor Gladwyn was not particularly forthcoming.’
‘On the contrary, whereas the Reverend Touchmore speaks of irregularities in the accounts of the almshouses, it appears that Doctor Gladwyn was not aware that there were any. One of the two men is either lying, unless of course one of them has a short memory. Either way it would appear more and more likely that those almshouses might well have played an important role in Pitzer’s death.’
‘You think we should return there tomorrow?’
‘Perhaps.’
The cab made its way back along the drive, but as the vehicle turned into the roadway, the driver suddenly pulled up the horse, throwing the policemen back into their seats.
‘There boy! Steady! Easy does it. Look out you fool!’ shouted their driver.
The cause of the horse’s fright was an elderly tall, bearded figure who had been walking straight in front of its path.
‘I think the poor man is blind!’ cried out Ravenscroft.
The man in question was simply dressed, wearing a pair of old trousers, and a shirt and waistcoat under a torn, open overcoat. He was staring out vacantly ahead of him and mumbling something under his breath.
‘Out of the way there!’ shouted the driver.
The man swore something under his breath, before moving quickly away down the road.
‘Poor fellow,’ remarked Crabb, as the cab resumed its journey.
‘Strange, but I seemed to think I caught sight of the same man loitering on the other side of the road, just when we arrived at Gladwyn’s house,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Shall I go after him sir?’
‘No. He was in all probability some vagrant on the lookout for his next meal.’
‘I’ll ask the station to keep a look out for him. Those types can often be up to no good. Where would you like to go next sir?’
‘I think it is time we ate. I don’t know about you constable, but I have an increasing hunger, and have not had a decent meal since I arrived in this town. Perhaps you could recommend somewhere Crabb where we might procure a steak, or a chop or two. The fare at the Tudor is meagre and uneatable, the surroundings dull, and the company almost non-existent.’
‘I think I can suggest somewhere which I hope will be to your liking sir. Cabbie, take us to Westminster Road if you will.’
Ten minutes later Ravenscroft found himself alighting from the cab outside a small white painted cottage, situated along a narrow road, which looked down onto the main road to the Wells.
‘You certainly have a magnificent view from up here,’ he said looking across the open countryside.
Crabb paid off their driver and the cab trotted off along the narrow roadway on the side of the hill. ‘If you would care to follow me sir, I’m sure my Jennie will be pleased to meet you,’ he said opening the gate.
‘You’re a dark fellow Crabb. I was not aware that you were married.’
Crabb smiled, opened the front door of the little cottage and indicated that Ravenscroft should step inside.
‘Ah there you are Jennie my dear. This is Mister Ravenscroft.’
‘Mister Ravenscroft. My Tom has told me all about you. It is a pleasure to meet you sir’. The speaker was a thin rosy cheeked woman, of homely appearance, who curtsied as they entered the tiny room. Ravenscroft estimated her to be around twenty years of age, and knew straight away that he would like her.
‘I said that Mister Ravenscroft would be welcome to share our meal with us, especially as I know that you always cooks more than enough my dear.’
‘My dear Mrs Crabb, this is frightfully unjust of your husband to suddenly impose myself upon you,’ said Ravenscroft shaking her hand.
‘We would be delighted of your company sir. Tom is quite correct when he says I always cook too much. He often chides me, saying that he will be twice the size he is now, by the time he is thirty, if I carries on the same way,’ she laughed. ‘You would be more than welcome sir.’
‘That would be most kind of you,’ replied Ravenscroft.
‘Well sir. If you would like to give me your coat, and then sit at the table, I’ll get us a drink,’ said Crabb.
Ravenscroft looked around the welcoming room, with its neat, tidy furnishings and the warm fire which glowed in the hearth. Jennie disappeared into the kitchen, as Crabb poured out two mugs of ale from an earthenware pitcher. ‘There you are sir. Taste that and tell me what you think.’
‘Uncommonly good, and certainly welcome after all our travels today. Have you been married long?’
‘Just six months sir.’
‘And how did you come to be here at Malvern? I thought you were bought up on a farm near Evesham?’ asked Ravenscroft sitting back in his chair.
‘Indeed I was sir. But our farm did not provide enough work for the two of us, so my elder brother took over the farm when my father died three years ago and he now runs it with my mother. I saw a job going with the Evesham constabulary and applied and worked there for a while. Then I married my Jennie, and they said there was this police cottage here at Malvern Wells, so we moved here just four months ago.’
‘Malvern seems a strange place, full of doctors and water cure patients,’ said Ravenscroft taking another mouthful of his ale.
‘Very stuck in its ways sir, is Malvern. Very conservative it is in all respects, and the same group of people — Pitzer, Touchmore, Sommersby, Gladwyn and their friends seem to run everything. Nothing much seems to happen here, until now of course with this murder. I am only thankful that you were on that train sir, as I don’t think I could have conducted a murder enquiry on my own.’
‘I’m sure you would have managed.’
‘Tis certainly a strange affair, no mistaking it sir. Everyone says that Pitzer didn’t have any enemies, yet our reverend gentleman says that Pitzer had had a disagreement with this Armitage fellow over the accounts.’
‘Now Tom put your police talk on one side, whilst we have our meal.’ said Jennie returning from the kitchen, carrying a large steaming saucepan, which she set down upon the table.