‘You are quite right, Mrs. Crabb, we policemen have a habit of taking our cases home with us. My that smells incredibly good,’ said Ravenscroft leaning forwards.
‘My Jennie makes the best mutton stew in the whole of Malvern,’ said Crabb hastily tucking a napkin under his necktie.
‘Only Malvern! Why Tom Crabb, you said Worcestershire last week,’ laughed Jennie ladling out the food into their bowls.
‘Nay, why stop at Worcestershire, when there is the whole of the county to be fed! Let Mr. Ravenscroft be the judge of your fine dish.’
‘My, that is incredibly good,’ said Ravenscroft tasting the dish, ‘I swear it is the best thing I have eaten since I have been here in Malvern.’
Crabb gave his wife a wink.
‘Mr. Ravenscroft is staying at the Tudor my dear.’
‘Oh, you poor man, you must be quite starved Mister Ravenscroft.’
‘Doctor Mountcourt does not believe in providing generous helpings of food for his guests. He declares the frugal fare to be part of the treatment! The place is quite miserable. What few patients there are, do not seem to be enjoying the experience. But enough of the Tudor, this really is quite excellent Mrs. Crabb.’
‘Then you shall have some more sir,’ said Jennie ladling more of the mixture into Ravenscroft’s bowl.
‘I will certainly not refuse. Tell me, if I am not being impolite, but how did you and Tom meet?’ asked Ravenscroft taking another mouthful of the warming food.
‘Jennie and I lived in the same village. We went to the same school together. I always knew that she was the girl for me, although it took me a while to persuade her to marry me. But I tells you Mister Ravenscroft, I have never regretted it. Not one day have I ever woken up and regretted my choice. She is the finest, most handsome, noblest woman for miles around,’ said Crabb proudly.
‘Stop! Tom, your embarrassing me,’ interrupted Jennie, looking down at her bowl and turning a bright red.
‘I admire your certainty and commitment,’ replied Ravenscroft.
‘And are you married sir?’ asked Jennie.
‘Jennie my love we should not ask our guests such questions,’ said Tom reprimanding his wife.
‘I’m so sorry sir, my inquisitive nature sometimes gets the better of me,’ said Jennie looking crestfallen.
‘I do not mind answering. No. There is no Mrs. Ravenscroft. There was someone some years ago, with whom I formed a close attachment, but she went away before I could decide that I cared for her.’
‘That is very sad,’ said Jennie looking across into Ravenscroft’s eyes.
‘Sometimes we realise that we have failed to make the best of the opportunities that are offered to us, and it is only later — often much later — that we regret our lack of resolve.’
‘And what happened to her, if I may be so bold, as to ask you sir,’ inquired Jennie.
‘She went to Australia, and I never saw her again,’ replied Ravenscroft turning away.
‘Perhaps she will come back one day,’ suggested Jennie.
‘I would doubt it. She is probably married by now and is the mother of ten handsome lively children. You should have children Crabb. Malvern and its hills would be a fine place to bring up children.’
‘Strange you should say that sir — ’ began Crabb, but his wife interrupted him.
‘Tom, please!’
‘I don’t cares if I tells the whole world! My dearest Jennie is expecting our first child in six months’ time,’ said Crabb proudly.
‘That is splendid news. I do congratulate you both. I’m sure you will both make admirable parents,’ said Ravenscroft leaning across the table and shaking the hands of his host and hostess.
‘Thank you sir,’ replied Jennie going a deeper shade of red.
‘Your children will certainly be well fed! This is the best thing that has happened to me in this town since I arrived here. I have never tasted food as good as this, even in London,’ said Ravenscroft emptying his bowl.
‘Stop sir, your embarrassing me again,’ laughed Jennie.
They were suddenly interrupted by a banging on the front door.
‘If you will excuse me sir, I’ll just go and see who that is,’ said Crabb rising from the table.
‘Your husband enjoys his work?’ asked Ravenscroft. He could hear Crabb talking to someone at the front door.
‘Tom enjoys being out and about,’ replied Jennie, ‘And yes, he likes his work sir.’
Crabb returned to the room, studying a piece of paper, and looking very solemn.
‘Trouble Crabb?’ inquired Ravenscroft, sensing that something was wrong.
‘A note sir, delivered from Malvern College. It says we are to come straight away. It seems that Mr. Sommersby has met with a fatal accident!’
CHAPTER FOUR
As Ravenscroft and Crabb made their way down the winding path that lead to Malvern College, they were overtaken by a trap that drew up sharply at the front entrance of the building.
‘It seems as though our Doctor Gladwyn has been sent for as well,’ said Crabb.
‘News travels fast,’ remarked Ravenscroft.
‘Good evening to you again gentlemen,’ said Gladwyn alighting from his trap, ‘It appears that Sommersby has met with an accident of some kind.’
The door was opened by the porter, who was clearly in an agitated state. ‘Thank goodness you gentlemen have come. Doctor Sommersby seems to have met with a terrible accident. If you would all come this way.’
The porter led the way across the hall and down the cloister like corridor, until they reached the library. ‘I think perhaps you should enter first gentlemen.’
‘Good heavens!’ exclaimed Gladwyn.
The floor was littered with books and Ravenscroft noticed that one of the large bookcases had been pulled to the side of the room.
‘Doctor Sommersby must have been working in the library when one of the bookcases fell on top of him. We lifted the bookcase from off him, and placed it over there,’ said the porter.
Sommersby lay on his back, completely surrounded by the fallen books.
Gladwyn knelt down to examine the body.
‘Have you moved the body at all?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘No. We naturally moved some of the books that were on top of him, to see if we could render him any assistance, but all to no avail.’
‘He must have been killed instantly by the force of the bookcase and the falling books,’ said Gladwyn.
‘The bookcase cannot have been very secure. He must have been reaching up for one of the books, when the bookcase toppled over,’ suggested Crabb anxious to contribute to the discussion.
‘The other bookcase, which is also in the centre of the room, looks pretty secure,’ said Ravenscroft placing his hand on one of the shelves. ‘It would require quite a lot of force for the case to come down on one. On the other hand if someone gave it a hard thrust from the other side, I have no doubt it would come down easily enough.’
‘Poor man, what a terrible accident to have happened. First Pitzer and now Sommersby,’ said Gladwyn getting to his feet and shaking his head.
‘I don’t think it was an accident,’ said Ravenscroft kneeling down by the side of the deceased. ‘Look how the body is situated, on his back with his two arms at either side. It is almost as though the body had been arranged in this position before the bookcase was pushed over on top of him. If he had been placing a book on the shelf, and the case had begun to move suddenly, I believe Sommersby’s instant reaction would be to either move back quickly, or at least attempt to cover his head with his hands, or even turn away. I can see a line on the floor where the edge of the bookcase stood. Sommersby is far too close to the line. Whoever killed him tried to make it look like an accident.’
‘Good heavens!’ exclaimed Gladwyn.
‘Look for his pince-nez Crabb. They are not on his face. Again, if the bookcase fell on top of him they would have broken the glasses, and yet I cannot see them anywhere,’ said Ravenscroft. Crabb began to look around the room, searching through the piles of books on the floor as he did so.