Read Online Sidney Chambers and The Problem of Evil (The Grantchester Mysteries) by James Runcie - Free Book Online
Authors: James Runcie
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after cricketers.’
‘No, I’d never remember all that. I think I’m going to call the next batch after the great poets. I’m going to have to have a think because I’ve lost quite a few birds recently.’
‘Nothing serious, I hope? No disease?’
‘Nothing like that, fortunately, and at first I did think it was just a question of fate. There really is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow, you know. But then, this morning there was something unusual.’
‘And what was that?’
‘I found a dead robin inside the aviary. It could have got in of its own accord, of course, but I don’t see how. I would have noticed, I am sure of it.’
‘You mean it did not seem a natural death.’
‘Indeed it did not.’
For a moment neither priest spoke.
‘Who killed Cock Robin?’ Simon Opie asked after a while.
Sidney felt cold. ‘Not the sparrow with his bow and arrow, I imagine.’
‘It all seems so spiteful. I suppose I must be the rook, with my little book, and bury him.’
‘Then if it’s not in the dark I’ll be the clerk. There’s a great deal I need to ask you, Simon. There’s more to this, you know.’
‘I was afraid that you were going to say that.’
‘I am extremely worried . I cannot exaggerate.’
‘Then we should have a cup of tea and discuss the matter. Do you have time? I will ask Mrs Maguire to see to it.’
‘You have employed my former housekeeper?’
‘The very same. She told us that after your marriage she missed the company of clergy . . .’
‘That doesn’t sound like her at all . . .’
Sidney remembered overhearing Mrs Maguire complaining to his wife. ‘There’s another thing I should tell you. Both men leave the toilet seat up and their aim isn’t as good as it should be so there’s always a mess on the lino. They just don’t concentrate , that’s their problem.’
‘She works here part-time,’ Simon Opie continued. ‘She’s a lively presence, as I am sure you will remember. I can always count on her for an opinion.’
‘I am sure you can, Simon, but it’s not her opinion I’m after. It’s yours.’
‘Then proceed.’
Sidney filled his former tutor in on the facts of the case, concentrating particularly on the idea of animal sacrifice. What were these portents or warnings? The dove was the representation of peace and purity, the blackbird’s dark feathers were a reminder of the darkness of sin, and the canary was self-explanatory, but Sidney was extremely worried by the robin.
‘There are several mythologies about his red breast,’ Simon Opie answered. ‘One is that it was scorched after taking water to the condemned in hell; another is that it was pierced and bled when removing the thorns from our Lord’s crown on the cross. You also know the legend of animals talking at the moment of the nativity, the robin being one of them . . .’
‘I remember something from Martial. “I magpie, a talker, greet thee, O Lord.”’
‘Speaking of talking . . .’ Mrs Maguire entered the room with a tea trolley. She nodded to Sidney, put out a plate of pink Peek Freans biscuits and proceeded to pour out two cups while muttering that there was a man outside waiting to see the Principal.
‘Did he say who he was?’
‘He speaks a bit too fancy, if you ask me.’
‘Never mind about that. What is his name?’
‘I think he said his name was Harland.’
‘Ah yes. He will have come to discuss his offer of lay-reading.’
‘Did he study here?’ Sidney asked.
‘For a short while. I am afraid he did not find it congenial. I think he had a bit of a breakdown. Not all that are called are chosen.’
‘Would you mind if I spoke to him too?’ Sidney asked.
‘I have no objection. But why would you want to do that? I am sure that you have parish duties to attend.’
‘He assisted at Philip Agnew’s funeral. He didn’t strike me as a man who had suffered a nervous breakdown.’
‘Sometimes people emerge from their setbacks all the stronger.
‘No, I’d never remember all that. I think I’m going to call the next batch after the great poets. I’m going to have to have a think because I’ve lost quite a few birds recently.’
‘Nothing serious, I hope? No disease?’
‘Nothing like that, fortunately, and at first I did think it was just a question of fate. There really is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow, you know. But then, this morning there was something unusual.’
‘And what was that?’
‘I found a dead robin inside the aviary. It could have got in of its own accord, of course, but I don’t see how. I would have noticed, I am sure of it.’
‘You mean it did not seem a natural death.’
‘Indeed it did not.’
For a moment neither priest spoke.
‘Who killed Cock Robin?’ Simon Opie asked after a while.
Sidney felt cold. ‘Not the sparrow with his bow and arrow, I imagine.’
‘It all seems so spiteful. I suppose I must be the rook, with my little book, and bury him.’
‘Then if it’s not in the dark I’ll be the clerk. There’s a great deal I need to ask you, Simon. There’s more to this, you know.’
‘I was afraid that you were going to say that.’
‘I am extremely worried . I cannot exaggerate.’
‘Then we should have a cup of tea and discuss the matter. Do you have time? I will ask Mrs Maguire to see to it.’
‘You have employed my former housekeeper?’
‘The very same. She told us that after your marriage she missed the company of clergy . . .’
‘That doesn’t sound like her at all . . .’
Sidney remembered overhearing Mrs Maguire complaining to his wife. ‘There’s another thing I should tell you. Both men leave the toilet seat up and their aim isn’t as good as it should be so there’s always a mess on the lino. They just don’t concentrate , that’s their problem.’
‘She works here part-time,’ Simon Opie continued. ‘She’s a lively presence, as I am sure you will remember. I can always count on her for an opinion.’
‘I am sure you can, Simon, but it’s not her opinion I’m after. It’s yours.’
‘Then proceed.’
Sidney filled his former tutor in on the facts of the case, concentrating particularly on the idea of animal sacrifice. What were these portents or warnings? The dove was the representation of peace and purity, the blackbird’s dark feathers were a reminder of the darkness of sin, and the canary was self-explanatory, but Sidney was extremely worried by the robin.
‘There are several mythologies about his red breast,’ Simon Opie answered. ‘One is that it was scorched after taking water to the condemned in hell; another is that it was pierced and bled when removing the thorns from our Lord’s crown on the cross. You also know the legend of animals talking at the moment of the nativity, the robin being one of them . . .’
‘I remember something from Martial. “I magpie, a talker, greet thee, O Lord.”’
‘Speaking of talking . . .’ Mrs Maguire entered the room with a tea trolley. She nodded to Sidney, put out a plate of pink Peek Freans biscuits and proceeded to pour out two cups while muttering that there was a man outside waiting to see the Principal.
‘Did he say who he was?’
‘He speaks a bit too fancy, if you ask me.’
‘Never mind about that. What is his name?’
‘I think he said his name was Harland.’
‘Ah yes. He will have come to discuss his offer of lay-reading.’
‘Did he study here?’ Sidney asked.
‘For a short while. I am afraid he did not find it congenial. I think he had a bit of a breakdown. Not all that are called are chosen.’
‘Would you mind if I spoke to him too?’ Sidney asked.
‘I have no objection. But why would you want to do that? I am sure that you have parish duties to attend.’
‘He assisted at Philip Agnew’s funeral. He didn’t strike me as a man who had suffered a nervous breakdown.’
‘Sometimes people emerge from their setbacks all the stronger.
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