Chapter Seven

Sergeant Collins was detailed to return with Constable White to City South and attempt to discover the results of the finger-print checks on the weapon, leaving Lennox at the wheel to make sure the Inspector didn't have to do anything but nurture his little grey cells for the investigation.

Returning to the University, they were informed that Professor Wright had left for the day, but Dr Lorimer was believed to be in his office, so they went there first. A frosty tone bid them 'Enter' and a gnome-like individual with a luxuriant beard peered up at them over half-moon spectacles.

"What do you want?" he asked rudely.

Jack performed the introductions; the doctor was not noticeably impressed by the full recital of the Inspector's title, and appeared to contemplate ignoring the question when asked about his whereabouts that morning, becoming preoccupied again with the papers on his desk.

"Were you, perhaps, teaching, sir?" ventured Lennox.

Lorimer made a noise which could almost certainly have been "pshaw" were it not a well-known fact that such words do not exist outside the more fanciful regency novels. "Teaching? Don't be ridiculous. I couldn't possibly teach and get my study of the life of David Hulme completed. I was here. I'm always here."

"Can anyone confirm that, Dr Lorimer?" asked Jack. "Was anyone with you?"

"They'd have been out on their ear if they'd tried to disturb me," he growled, and glared at them both in case the message wasn't understood.

Eager to avoid being flung out on either of his ears, Jack tried a different tack. "I'm not sure if you might, then, have heard the news about Dr Mattheus Gold?"

"Gold? No. What's the fool done now?"

"I'm afraid Dr Gold was shot this morning. He's dead," replied Jack.

At this, at least, Dr Lorimer was moved to sit up, remove his spectacles and give the Inspector his undivided attention. "What's that you say? Dead?" He looked down at his hands and muttered something.

"I beg your pardon?" asked Jack politely.

Lorimer gave a half-smile. "I said I wish I'd drunk his port now. He offered me a glass after he won the Dupray. Tempted to throw it in his face - knew he was only doing it to spite me. Dreadful piece of work." He chortled evilly. "Mind you, he cut Christian Wright completely dead, so I'm not sure which of us was the angrier."

"You and Professor Wright were the only two people who opposed his nomination for the Dupray, I believe?"

"The only ones with the spine to do it," sneered Lorimer. "He was telling the historians exactly what they wanted to hear, and wrote it so beautifully that English were thrilled. Only Wright and I were prepared to flag up the appalling quality of the rhetoric." He peered up at them. "Have you been to see Wright yet?"

Jack conceded that they had not.

"In that case, Detective Chief Inspector, I suggest you get over there with all speed and ask him about Gold's ability to construct a logical argument." He rose to his feet, and paced around the desk to open the door for them. "And then, Inspector, stand well back."

He was chortling to himself, and didn't notice the two detectives exchange glances. But then, he couldn't have known how far he'd ruled himself out as a suspect as he walked to the door.

For whatever reason, the development of Dr Lorimer's brain had not been reflected in the growth of his stature. Jane would have towered over him. While Jack sympathised with what must have been a challenging physiological condition, it at least meant that they were unlikely to have to trouble the cantankerous academic any further.

No further discussion was required, and having checked his notes for Wright's address, Lennox started the engine.

They pulled up outside Professor Wright's residence, and the first thing they saw was a beautiful, shiny Hispano-Suiza parked at the kerb outside.

Jack considered. There was the faint - very faint - possibility - that Miss Fisher had followed up an urge to visit a friend of whom he'd previously been unaware.

He addressed the idea for a nanosecond, and briefly covered his face with both hands. He then walked up to the door of the house containing a possible murderer, and rang the doorbell. Being shown into the sitting room, he was comforted by the fact that Lennox, at his elbow, couldn't hide a sharp intake of breath. As he'd done the same, either they were about to burst into a duet, or they'd just caught sight of Professor Wright's other guests.

Jane was too preoccupied with her host's words to look up, but Phryne swung round in her seat, smiled broadly, and said, "Hello, Jack!"