‘I’m coming to the interesting bit,’ said Dorcas, hands on hips. ‘When I cleaned Peter’s cage, I found the diary hidden inside it under a false base. And what do you think? I also found over two hundred pounds in banknotes.’
Andrews laughed. ‘Is this some kind of joke?’
‘No, sir — it’s as true as I’m standing here.’
‘It is,’ confirmed Vesey from behind the counter.
‘Do you see why I said that Peter came to our rescue?’
‘No, I don’t,’ said Andrews.
‘Neither do I,’ admitted Madeleine. ‘Is this diary going to be of help in the investigation?’
‘It is now that my memory has been jogged. That’s the whole point.’
‘So the case relies on the assistance of a canary?’
‘The owl is far more important.’
‘Saints alive!’ exclaimed Andrews. ‘We’ve stumbled into an aviary.’
‘Let me explain,’ said Dorcas.
‘I think you’ve explained enough,’ suggested Vesey. ‘Why don’t you leave our customers to enjoy their r — r-refreshments and t-t-take further orders?’ He indicated the three people who’d just come into the room. ‘I’m sorry about that,’ he went on as the waitress moved over to the newcomers. ‘Miss Hope gets r-r-rather excited. She was a good friend of Mr Heygate, so she’s very involved in the case.’
Madeleine gave an understanding smile but her father was more interested in sampling one of the cakes. She poured tea for both of them, then added milk and sugar to her cup. Colbeck’s letters had said nothing about a canary and an owl. She looked forward to getting a clearer explanation of their role in the investigation. Meanwhile, she stirred her tea then reached for a cake.
‘I feel better already,’ said Andrews, munching away. ‘I’m completely safe here. Mrs Young can’t come and spread lies about Binnie.’
‘You promised to forget both of them, Father.’
‘I’m trying to do that, Maddy, but they keep popping into my mind.’
She nibbled her cake. ‘Robert is going to have a shock.’
‘And a very pleasant shock it will be.’
‘I do hope so. He must know that I didn’t come here to hamper him in any way. I just wanted to see him.’
‘And I just wanted not to see Ivy Young.’
‘She belongs in your past, Father, and so does Mrs Langton.’
‘You’re right as always, Maddy. I’m happier without either of them.’ He looked around. ‘I’ve never been here before. What do you think there is to see in Exeter? Apart from an owl and a canary, that is.’
‘There’s only one thing I want to see,’ she said, ‘and that’s Robert.’
‘His last letter said that they’d made an arrest. The case is solved.’
‘Then why did he warn me that he’d have to stay here for a while? No, I think there are still a number of things to clear up.’
Eating their cakes and drinking their tea, they were able to relax. They’d already noticed the marked difference to London. Instead of a vast, bustling metropolis that stretched in all directions, they were now in a provincial city with expanses of open countryside visible. It was altogether quieter and less frenetic than life in the capital. Madeleine marvelled at her own boldness in coming to Exeter. She’d acted on the spur of the moment and been able to involve her father. He’d been an irritable travelling companion but had cheered up now that they’d reached their destination. Like him, she felt strangely liberated.
Madeleine was just reflecting how small and uncluttered the station was compared to the London termini when an express train arrived for a short stay before continuing on to Plymouth without any further stop. Passengers poured out, many of them in need of refreshments before they rejoined the train. The room was so full of people that neither Madeleine nor her father realised that they included Colbeck and Leeming who’d walked into the station as the express juddered to a halt. Vesey and Dorcas worked at full stretch to answer the needs of their customers. As most of them chose to sit at tables, very few people were left standing.
Madeleine finally noticed two familiar faces and leapt to her feet.
‘Robert!’ she cried out.
Colbeck was torn between delight and amazement. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I came to see you, of course.’
‘And so did I,’ said Andrews.
Wanting to embrace her, Colbeck had to restrict himself to a kiss on the cheek while in public. He then shook her father’s hand warmly. Leeming also gave them a cordial welcome, asking what the weather was like in London. The refreshment room was too crowded for them to have a proper conversation, so they stepped outside.
‘This is a wonderful surprise,’ said Colbeck, grinning. ‘I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see you. However,’ he went on, ‘I am still heavily involved in the investigation, so you’ll have to excuse me for a while.’
‘Of course,’ said Madeleine. ‘We didn’t come to interfere.’
‘Though you’re welcome to my advice if you need it,’ offered Andrews. ‘What’s all this about an owl and a canary?’
‘I can see that you’ve been talking to Miss Hope,’ said Colbeck. ‘Victor will explain. Where are you going to stay?’
‘The waitress mentioned a tavern in Sidwell Street.’
‘That’s where we’ve taken rooms, Mr Andrews. Victor,’ he went on, ‘why don’t you find a cab and take Madeleine and her father to the Acland Tavern? I know they have spare rooms there. I’ll meet up with you later.’
‘Where are you going, Robert?’ asked Madeleine.
‘First of all, I have to speak to Miss Hope and I can’t do that until the train is ready to leave and the refreshment room clears. It may well be,’ he said, ‘that she has some vital evidence for us relating to the scene of the crime. Once I’ve heard what it is, I have to catch a train to Totnes.’
She was concerned. ‘Is that far away?’
‘It’s about thirty miles from here,’ he replied, ‘and though your father might believe otherwise, the South Devon Railway provides an excellent service.’
‘It can’t compete with the LNWR,’ said Andrews, loyally.
‘It doesn’t try to, Mr Andrews.’
Madeleine was curious. ‘Why are you going to Totnes?’
‘I have to interview an important witness,’ said Colbeck. ‘In fact, I can’t think of anyone more important, because the young lady may well be in a position to save a man from the gallows.’
One of the few advantages of being in his office was that Steel could not be subjected to ecclesiastical meddling there. If the bishop wished to see him, then he summoned the superintendent to his palace. He would never bother Steel at his place of work. That, at least, had been the situation until now. All of a sudden, Steel’s bolt-hole was no longer secure. Bishop Phillpotts demanded to see him and came waddling up the stairs. Admitted to the office, he flopped into the seat opposite the desk and looked around with undisguised disdain.
‘Is this the room from which our city is policed?’ he asked.
‘It’s all that the Watch Committee could provide for me.’
‘It’s pathetically bare and lacking in character.’
‘We can’t all afford the expensive paintings that adorn the walls of your palace, Bishop. Besides, this is an office and not a place where I can sit back at my leisure with a slim volume of verse or an improving novel.’
Phillpotts eyed him shrewdly. ‘Do you dare to poke fun at me, sir?’
‘No,’ said Steel, ‘I just wish to point out that ornate decoration would be wholly out of place in a building that routinely houses criminals.’
‘It’s about one of those criminals that I’ve come to enquire. Is the villainous Mr Browne still under your roof?’
‘He’s been charged and remanded in custody at the prison.’
‘Good — if there’s no possibility of his escaping, I’m not in jeopardy.’
‘You never were, Bishop,’ said Steel, ‘except in your own mind.’
‘I know when I’m under threat, man,’ said the other, tartly, ‘and I’ll brook no criticism from you or from anyone else. Withdraw that slur at once.’