Page 5 of Corpse in the Canal

“Thank you, I’ll inquire there. When did you last see young Mr. Harvey?”

Waltham frowned with the effort of remembering. “Wednesday afternoon, at White’s. Had luncheon together.”

A day later than his valet had seen him. “How was he?”

“The worse for the night before,” Waltham said, grinning, “but cheerful enough with it.”

“How long did he stay in your company?”

“A few hours. I left him to come home about five, I think.”

“Did he say what he was going to do next? Or during the rest of the week?”

“No, he just follows his nose, does Perce. Though I could hazard a few guesses.” He cast Solomon a quick glance. “Guesses old Harvey wouldn’t like.”

“I shan’t tell him unless I need to.”

“Women and gaming. I daresay this Adelaide took care of the first. And he was a member of several clubs.”

“Did he only play at respectable clubs? Or did he favor any less salubrious establishments?”

“He’d play anywhere, but he wasn’t stupid. He didn’t seek out criminal places. To my knowledge.”

Solomon nodded. “Was he lucky?”

“Sometimes,” Waltham said dubiously.

“I understand he donated to several charities. I don’t suppose you know which he favored?”

Waltham raised his eyebrows. “Really? Ha! You think you know someone and then they surprise you! No, I’m afraid I’ve no idea.”

“I see… Just between ourselves, Mr. Waltham—and I have no desire to pass such confidences on to Mr. Richard Harvey—what else did Percy get up to that might have put him in bad or dangerous company?”

“Dangerous?” Waltham repeated, startled. “What on earth do you mean?”

“Did he go into poorer parts of the city for his diversions? Some call it slumming.”

Waltham’s face reddened and he shifted uncomfortably, glancing across the room at his wife and Constance, who seemed to be chatting happily together. “I don’t know. Maybe. For girls, perhaps, if those of better breeding are—er…unavailable. Or for gaming. He doesn’t mind risk, old Perce, not afraid of anyone. But he’s not stupid. Why play crooked games when he can lose in legal ones?”

Chapter Two

Constance, meanwhile, was discovering Mrs. Waltham to be amiable, artless to the point of naivety, but very far from stupid. Married only a few months, she was openly devoted to her husband and still at the stage where she resembled a child playing at houses.

Shamelessly, Constance emphasized the similarity of their situations in order to win her trust. “We were only married in February,” she confided. “So strange to be living so closely with a man…”

“Very strange,” Mrs. Waltham agreed, sharing a secretive yet knowing smile, “but rather wonderful, don’t you think?”

“I have never been so happy in my life,” Constance said honestly.

“Oh, neither have I! Bobby is so wonderful and gentle, and yet he makes me laugh all the time. We have such fun together. That is what my mother does not understand. As if there is some vice in laughter and amusement!”

“Parents cannot help worrying about their children, necessarily or otherwise,” Constance said, although in her case, it was frequently the other way about. “I can tell at once that Mr. Waltham is a good man. He will be serious when he needs to be. There is no vice in him.”

“Absolutely none,” his wife said happily.

“Is Percy Harvey like that, too?”

“I imagine so,” Mrs. Waltham said, but she dropped her eyes as she spoke, either from doubt or lack of interest.