Read Online Death in the Peerless Pool by Deryn Lake - Free Book Online Page A

seen the victim and she said early on the evening of the night before last.’
    â€˜Did she state in what circumstances?’
    â€˜Yes. Apparently Hannah went out with a bundle in her hand. Mother Hamp asked her what it was and she said it was some old clothes that she was taking up to the Hospital for Poor Lunatics and that she was on her way there immediately. However, the old besom did not believe her.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Because she swore that she glimpsed the Frenchman waiting for Hannah, loitering further down the lane, and that the pair of them set off in the direction of the French Hospital.’
    Mr Fielding gave a quiet and rather shocking chuckle. ‘Do you know, my friends, I have the feeling that this is going to be one of the most intriguing investigations any of us has ever undertaken. For what do we have so far? A victim who appears to have been up to no good, a frightened mad beauty, a waiter who knows more than he should, a gate leading from the scene of the crime into the fields and directly to where the dead woman lived, not to mention a powdered Frenchman and a menacing coachman. It is truly the stuff of novels. How my brother would have relished it.’
    John smiled, one side of his mouth tilting upwards. ‘Is it not said that fact is stranger than fiction?’
    â€˜Indeed it is. Now, did Hannah’s landlady reveal anything further?’
    â€˜Only that the dead woman kept herself very much to herself. Something confirmed by the gossiping neighbour. But what of Toby, Sir?’
    Joe Jago answered for the Magistrate. ‘We have yet to see him. In fact we kept him to the last, Mr Rawlings, in the hope that you might arrive.’
    Samuel looked excited. ‘Then shall we call him in?’
    â€˜By all means.’
    The man who had brought Hannah Rankin’s body to the surface of the Pond was clearly the old soldier that he claimed to be. Scars of battle marked his face, one cut running down so close to his eye that he was lucky not to have lost the sight of it. With his sleeves rolled back, exposing his burly forearms, other healed wounds could be seen. There was a generally stoical air about the fellow, as if he had borne all manner of terrible conditions and still come out uncomplaining. John almost regretted the blow that would shortly fall upon him.
    Mr Fielding leant back in his chair, his face impassive, his voice measured. ‘Be so good as to stand in front of me. As you know, I am completely blind and it helps me to converse if I know whither I should address my voice.’
    Toby did as he had been requested, then stood straight, military style, waiting to be questioned.
    The Magistrate continued urbanely. ‘I will, if I may, recount your part in the tragic events of yesterday, so that you can tell me if they are correct or otherwise. Then, perhaps, we might discuss any points that arise. Is that agreeable to you?’
    â€˜It is, Sir.’
    â€˜From what I have heard you were summoned by Mr Kemp to assist Mr Rawlings. He told you that a body had been found in the Fish Pond and asked whether you would be willing to dive in and retrieve it. To this you made the somewhat curious reply that you had fought in the war and seen worse sights than dead women.’ Mr Fielding paused, then said silkily, ‘How did you know that it was a female who lay at the bottom of the lake?’
    Toby’s eyes bulged in his head and his jaw sagged, then he recovered himself. ‘Because he said so,’ he answered, pointing at John.
    â€˜But that’s just the point,’ the Apothecary retorted, ‘I did no such thing. I was very careful not to mention the gender of the victim.’
    There was a moment’s silence, then Toby fell back on the soldier’s creed that attack is the best method of defence. ‘Far be it from me to argue with a gentleman, but I must contradict you there, Sir,’ he announced boldly. ‘You