Part 43 (2/2)

I'm afraid that was my fault, I admitted. To tell the truth, I had been dreading the moment in which I should have to own to my indiscretion. I mentioned to him where you had gone.

That accounts for it then. 'E'd rung up, see, to find out whether I was on to 'im or not. If I wasn't well, the chemist wouldn't think nothink of being asked polite whether I'd 'appened to've been in there. If I was on to 'im well, 'e knew where 'e stood. So when the chemist said I 'ad been in, 'e pockets 'is 'undred quid, wot 'e always kept 'andy for an emergency, and 'eads off for the continent. But that's where we was too quick for 'im Mr. Townsend and me. And 'e's safely in charge, and a good thing too.

The Sergeant stopped, and pa.s.sed a large handkerchief over his forehead. He was beaming with pride and pleasure.

Stute was silent for thirty seconds or more.

Well, Beef, he said at last, I think you've hit it. In fact, in view of your chemist's evidence, I don't see that there can be much doubt. It's been a topsy-turvy case all through. It seems a bit absurd that your ignorance about cyanide of pota.s.sium should have put you on to something which I, with all the facts of the case at my disposal, missed. But I won't deny you followed it up well, and you're to be congratulated.

Thank you, sir.

The only thing is I doubt if we could ever get a conviction for murder against old Rogers on the strength of this evidence, and I don't see how it can be improved in the necessary respect. We can prove that old Rogers bought the poison. But how are we to prove that he ever gave it to his nephew, or if he did so, that he made him think it wasn't poison? I'm afraid that if we were to bring such a charge the Judge would direct the Prosecution to reduce it to one of Being an Accessory Before the Fact of Felo de Se and for Aiding and Abetting Felo de Se.

Oh no 'e wouldn't, said Beef, growing quite excited again, I knew I was forgetting somethink! I've got a bit of evidence as 'ud put a stop to any of that wot you said, and show it was right down murder.

Really? What is that? The scepticism had quite gone out of Stute's voice, and he treated the Sergeant almost with respect.

Why, when I went over to Claydon I 'ad another object in view. I was going to see Mr. Sawyer's brother, wot 'ad disappeared an' turned up again, and wot you laughed about when I told you. Well, I did see 'im, poor chap. 'E couldn't even come out an 'ave one with me, in case 'is wife got to know of it. But 'e told me what she'd forbidden 'im to tell anyone, for fear of 'im getting mixed up in a case of murder an' that. Wot you didn't seem to take much notice of, sir, was that 'e was in Braxham on that Wednesday evening. Anyone else in the town as 'ad seen or 'eard anythink would 'ave come forward, but 'e couldn't very well, because 'e was 'iding out of the way of 'is wife. And 'e did know somethink, too. He 'ad run into young Rogers a few minutes past eight, as young Rogers was coming round to the Mitre. They knew each other well through 'aving met time and again at the Dragon. So Sawyer's brother asks him where 'e s oft to and 'e says to the Mitre, to see if Beef's there. So Sawyer's brother asks wot he wants Beef for, and 'e says 'e's going to get 'is own back at last. 'Ow's 'e going to do it? asks Sawyers brother. So 'e grins an' says, come and see, 'e'll do it all right, the way 'is uncle's shown 'im. But Sawyer's brother can't wait to see wot 'appens because 'e's got that wife be'ind 'im wot might start out in pursuit any minute, and then where'd 'e be? So 'e says good night, and off 'e goes, and young Rogers goes on to the Mitre. An' if that's not proof, I don't know wot is.

Hm, said Stute, that's better. Well, frankly, Sergeant, you've surprised me.

I've surprised myself, sir. These things seem to come to me. I think I must 'ave been born for this business. You take that affair of when Mr. Larkin was finding discs in his cigarette machine every morning. . . .

Well, I don't think we'll go into that now, Beef. The point is that subject to confirmation of your facts you've succeeded where I ... hadn't yet reached any conclusion. I don't think there will be much difficulty about charging Rogers. A very interesting scoundrel, and a very clever plot for murder. I shall give you full credit in my report, Beef. You may be lucky, but at any rate you are successful, and that's the important thing to us here. Anything more? Oh yes. Your notes. I see. Chemist s name and address. And so on. Good night then, Beef. Good night, Mr. Townsend. I suppose you'll be writing this up? I thought so. There's no crime nowadays without a novel, and very few novels without a crime. Good night to you both.

EPILOGUE.

IT WAS MY last night in Braxham. In the noisy heat of a crowded town hall I sat beside Sergeant Beef, waiting to see the final of thes.h.i.+re Police Heavyweight Boxing Champions.h.i.+ps, in which P.C. Chick” Galsworthy of Braxham was to meet P.C. Theodore Smith, of Chopley.

I 'ope 'e'll win, said Beef for the fiftieth time. He deserves to, the way 'e's been training. Why, do you know, 'e 'asn't touched a gla.s.s of beer for three weeks?

Yes. I hope he wins too, I said. I never cared for Smith. He was too anxious to please.

You're right there, said Beef. Well, we shall see.

There were deafening shouts when Galsworthy, looking very fit and fine, entered the ring, followed soon after by Smith. The latter looked the more powerful man, his shoulders sloped downwards as though under a great weight of muscle, but Galsworthy, I thought, had the more perfect physique.

I shall not describe that long and arduous fight. This is not the place, and I am not the man, to do so. I have never admired your great detective's biographer who becomes sidetracked by his ambition to display the width of his interests. It is my job to chronicle the triumphs of Sergeant Beef, not of his a.s.sistant.

Between the rounds Beef made elaborate attempts at conversation. For a time the fight went evenly enough and I think the Sergeant's anxiety made him ape indifference.

You know, Mr. Townsend, he said, as he watched Galsworthy's seconds plying the towel after the second round, I've been talking things over with Mrs. Beef. I've decided, if they don't give me a job at the Yard after this, I shall rest on my laurels.

On your laurels?

I mean, I shall retire from the Force, said Beef with great dignity.

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