‘Far from it. Far from it! I now know what had worried Evelyn for all those years and why he had felt compelled to lead the life of a recluse.’
‘You’ve lost me, sir.’
‘The choirboy hanged himself from one of the beams in the library — and it was Nicholas Evelyn who discovered the body!’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘So it would seem that Nicholas Evelyn had something to do with that choirboy who hanged himself in the library, all those years ago,’ said Crabb.
It was the following morning and the two detectives were on their way to see Dr Silas Renfrew.
‘I think it was more than that. The event had a profound effect on the rest of Evelyn’s life. He became a recluse, immersing himself in his books, spending his evenings alone in that awful room, making no friends and avoiding all company. Somehow he must have felt himself responsible for the boy’s death. He withdrew into himself. Then one day someone came along and threatened to disclose Evelyn’s involvement in the boy’s death unless he stole the Whisperie — and when he had carried out the task he was brutally killed and thrown into the river,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Then Miss Weston found out who had killed Evelyn, and before she could tell, our murderer hired Billy to kill her as well,’ suggested Crabb.
‘It would appear to be that way.’
‘But how would our murderer have discovered Evelyn’s involvement in the boy’s suicide? After all there were no newspaper reports and there are no records in King’s School concerning the death.’
‘Which leads us to the conclusion that either our murderer was there at the time — in 1851 — or that he later became involved with the boy’s family and learned of the death that way,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘If he was around in 1851 that would rule out most of our suspects. Renfrew would have been too young and was living in America, and both Sir Arthur Griffiths and Cranston were either small children at the time or had not even been born.’
‘This case certainly throws up more possibilities the further we go back in time. Talking of Renfrew, here we are. Let us hope he has returned.’
The two men alighted from the cab and gave instructions that their driver was to wait for them.
‘No sign of the gardener today,’ said Crabb, lifting the large knocker and bringing it down on the wooden door. Almost before he had laid the knocker to rest, the door was abruptly opened by Georgio, the manservant.
‘Good morning,’ said Ravenscroft, ‘is your master at home?’
The Italian looked them up and down suspiciously, then remarked, ‘You a wait here,’ before opening the door wider, and admitting the two men into the hall.
‘Blimey!’ said Crabb observing the statue of the naked David at the bottom of the stairs, as the manservant disappeared into one of the back rooms.
‘Our doctor is a man of liberal tastes,’ smiled Ravenscroft.
‘Positively obscene I call it!’
The doors to the library opened and Renfrew strode out. ‘Good morning, Inspector. I see we meet again,’ said the American, offering his hand. As Ravenscroft shook it, he experienced the same iron grip as before. ‘Do please come into the library. Can I offer you a drink perhaps?’
‘No, thank you, sir. We won’t detain you long,’ replied Ravenscroft following his host into the room.
‘Dear me, Inspector, that all sounds very formal. Thank you, Georgio, you may leave us.’
The manservant gave a slight bow and stared at Crabb again, before leaving the room.
‘Now Inspector, have you called upon me to tell me that you have found the Whisperie?’ asked Renfrew, in his slow American drawl.
‘Alas, no, Dr Renfrew,’ replied Ravenscroft, as Crabb busied himself by casting glances round the room.
‘Then it must be concerning the Antiphoner.’
‘You are correct, sir.’
‘I knew that it would only be a matter of time before you returned, wanting to know more about my purchase of the work,’ said the American with confidence.
‘It might interest you to know, Dr Renfrew, that I have reason to believe that the Antiphoner was stolen some years ago from the library of Worcester Cathedral,’ said Ravenscroft looking into the American’s eyes to see if his sudden declaration had any noticeable effect on his host.
‘I see. Do you have any evidence to support this view?’ asked Renfrew unperturbed.
‘We examined the catalogue of the collection. The page which contained details of the Antiphoner had clearly been removed.’
‘Then this is of serious concern,’ replied Renfrew looking away.
‘You mentioned that you purchased the work from a New York auction house approximately five years ago, I think you said.’
‘That is correct, Inspector.’
‘Do you have any documentation to prove that you did indeed purchase it?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘Do you think that I took it from the cathedral library, or that I paid Evelyn to acquire it for me?’
‘I did not suggest that, sir.’
‘But you consider it a distinct possibility.’
‘I have to keep an open mind,’ said Ravenscroft, forcing a smile.
‘I think I have proof of purchase. If you will allow me time to search through my papers, Inspector?’
‘Of course.’
‘I know the purchase cost me a great deal of money. I had to sell a number of my American stocks to fund it,’ said Renfrew, opening the top drawer of his desk and taking out a folder of papers.
‘Perhaps you would allow me to show my constable the work in question?’
‘Please, feel free, Inspector.’
Ravenscroft and Crabb walked over to the glass cabinet which contained the Antiphoner.
‘Late fourteenth century, I think you said, sir?’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Yes,’ said Renfrew, going through his papers.
‘Don’t think I’ve ever seen a work as old as that before.’
‘Handwritten by the monks here at Worcester,’ added Ravenscroft.
‘Ah, here we are. I think you will find that this is in order,’ said Renfrew rising from his seat and handing over a sheet of paper.
‘Thank you. I see what you mean about a great deal of money.’
‘And worth every cent, I can assure you.’
‘This paper certainly indicates that you purchased the work in good faith from the auction house. Would you happen to know who the previous owner was?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘I’m afraid I can’t help you there. Most of these things are said to come from the “estate of an English gentleman”, which generally means that either some lord or other has died and his heirs are cashing in on his estate, or that some poor aristocrat has had to sell the family heirlooms to pay off his gambling debts.’
‘May I retain this receipt for a while?’
‘Certainly.’
‘You realize, sir, that if we find that the Antiphoner was taken from the cathedral, then the work will almost certainly have to be returned to the cathedral authorities,’ said Ravenscroft, neatly folding the paper and placing it in one of his coat pockets.
‘That I would be very loath to do — but then, as you say, Inspector, you have to prove that it was taken in the first place,’ replied Renfrew defiantly.
‘Oh, I think we might be able to do that, sir. In the meantime, I would ask you not to sell or dispose of it.’
‘I would be unlikely to do that. The Antiphoner is the pride of my collection.
I would be unwilling to part with it.’
‘Thank you for your time.’
Renfrew rang a bell. ‘Please feel free to call upon me at anytime you so wish.’
The manservant entered the room almost immediately.
‘Georgio, would you please show these two gentlemen out.’
Ravenscroft and Crabb followed him into the hall.
‘Until next time, Inspector,’ shouted out Renfrew from the study.