‘So many people give you a bank as an address. That’s tiresome too.’ ‘Yes – yes – as you say – But people are so restless these days and move about so much – living abroad and all that.’ He opened a desk drawer. ‘Now I have a property here, Crossgates – two miles from Market Basing – very good condition – nice garden ‘ Tuppence rose to her feet.
‘No thank you.’ She bade Mr Sprig a firm goodbye and went out into the square.
She paid a brief visit to the third establishment which seemed to be mainly preoccupied with sales of cattle, chicken farms and general farms in a derelict condition.
She paid a final visit to Messrs. Roberts & Wiley in George Street – which seemed to be a small but pushing business, anxious to oblige – but generally uninterested and ignorant of Sutton Chancellor and anxious to sell residences as yet only half built at what seemed ridiculously exorbitant sums – an illustration of one made Tuppence shudder. The eager young man seeing his possible client firm in departure, admitted unwillingly that such a place as Sutton Chancellor did exist.
‘Sutton Chancellor you mentioned. Better try Blodget & Burgess in the square. They handle some property thereabouts – but it’s all in very poor condition – run down -‘ ‘There’s a pretty house near there, by a canal bridge – I saw it from the train. Why does nobody want to live there?’ ‘Oh! I know the place, this – Riverbank – You wouldn’t get anyone to live in it – Got a reputation as haunted.’ ‘You mean – ghosts?’ ‘So they say – Lots of tales about it. Noises at nights. And groans. If you ask me, it’s death-watch beetle.’ ‘Oh dear,’ said Tuppence. ‘It looked to me so nice and isolated.’ ‘Much too isolated most people would say. Floods in winter – think of that.’ ‘I see that there’s a lot to think about,’ said Tuppence bitterly.
She murmured to herself as she sent her steps towards The Lamb and Flag at which she proposed to fortify herself with lunch.
‘A lot to think about – floods, death-watch beetle, ghosts, clanking chains, absentee owners and landlords, solicitors, banks – a house that nobody wants or loves – except perhaps me… Oh well, what I want now is Foot).’ The food at The Lamb and Flag was good and plentiful hearty food for farmers rather than phony French menus for tourists passing through – Thick savoury soup, leg of pork and apple sauce, Stilton cheese – or plums and custard if you preferred it – which Tuppence didn’t After a desultory stroll round, Tuppence retrieved her car and started back to Sutton Chancellor – unable to feel that her morning had been fruitful.
As she turned the last corner and Sutton Chancellor church came into view, Tuppence saw the vicar emerging from the churchyard. He walked rather wearily. Tuppence drew up by him.
‘And you still looking for that grave?’ she asked.
The vicar had one hand at the small of his back.
‘Oh dear,’ he said, ‘my eyesight is not very good. So many of the inscriptions are nearly erased. My back troubles me, too.
So many of these stones lie flat on the ground. Really, when I bend over sometimes I fear that I shall never get up again.’ ‘I shouldn’t do it any more,’ said Tuppence. ‘If you’ve looked in the parish register and all that, you’ve done all you
‘I know, but the poor fellow seemed so keen, so earnest. I’m quite sure that it’s all wasted labour. However, I really felt it was my duty. I have still got a short stretch I haven’t done, over there from beyond the yew tree to the far wall – although most of the stones are eighteenth century. But I should like to feel I had finished my task properly. Then I could not reproach myself. However, I shall leave it till tomorrow.’ ‘Quite right,’ said Tuppence. ‘You mustn’t do too much in one day. I tell you what,’ she added. ‘After I’ve had a cup of tea with Miss Bligh, I’ll go and have a look myself. From the yew tree to the wall, do you say?’ ‘Oh, but I couldn’t possibly ask you -‘ ‘That’s all right. I shall quite like to do it. I think it’s very interesting prowling round in a churchyard. You know, the older inscriptions give you a sort of picture of the people who lived here and all that sort of thing. I shall quite enjoy it, I shall really. Do go back home and rest.’ ‘Well, of course, I really have to do something about my sermon this evening, it’s quite tree. You are a very kind friend, I’m sure. A very kind friend.’