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not. He was ill, though, as I say. Look, old man, if you’re that interested why don’t you go and ask him? He’s still in the Royal Free as far as I know.’
    â€˜I wonder if he’d appreciate a visitor?’ Jack caught Rackham’s expression and grinned. ‘I know, you think I’m wasting my time chasing after some poor bloke and his vivid imagination but he does sound a bit out of the ordinary, you must admit. After all, that’s why you told me about him in the first place. What’s his name?’
    â€˜I’ve been trying to remember. Rossiter? George Rossiter? No, that’s not quite right. Lassiter, that’s it. George Lassiter.’
    â€˜George Lassiter?’ Jack put down his beer and repeated the name sharply. ‘George Lassiter? From South Africa? Are you sure?’
    â€˜Fairly sure, yes. Why? You don’t know him, do you?’
    â€˜I certainly knew a George Lassiter and he was a South African. He was in my squadron. He was a first-rate pilot and a thoroughly good sort. He got shot down a few months before the end of the war and was taken prisoner. I don’t know what happened to him after that. I haven’t seen him for years. I wonder if it really is the same bloke? He was a big man with sandy hair.’
    â€˜I don’t know what he looks like,’ said Rackham, ‘and to be honest I don’t know if he’s actually a South African, but his clothes were certainly made in Cape Town so it seems likely enough.’
    Jack looked at his watch. ‘I don’t know what the visiting hours at the Royal Free are but I imagine I’ve missed them for today. Damn!’
    â€˜Don’t worry about that,’ said Rackham. ‘Let me finish my beer and I’ll come to the hospital with you. Even if they won’t let you see the man himself, you can talk to the doctor or the matron or whatever about him. But remember, Jack, the man was apparently destitute. If you show too much interest you might end up being lumbered with him.’
    Jack shrugged. ‘I suppose I might but it wouldn’t be for long. He was a very independent character. And after all, he’s an old friend, or he could be. It sounds as if he needs one.’ He stopped, frowning. ‘What the devil made him do it? As I remember George, he was painfully honest. He must have been desperate. I’ll tell you something else, too. He’s the last person to suffer from an over-active imagination. He was a very prosaic sort of bloke. What the devil was he doing breaking into kitchens in Mayfair and seeing visionary corpses?’
    Rackham drained his glass and stood up. ‘Let’s go and find out, shall we?’

Chapter Two
    The man in the Royal Free was indeed George Lassiter, Jack’s old friend, and, although Lassiter himself was fast asleep, the doctor in charge of the case greeted Haldean and Rackham with frank relief.
    â€˜You’ve solved a bit of a problem for us, Major Haldean,’ said Dr Garrett, showing the two men into his office. ‘Please, sit down, won’t you? You see, although the patient will be well enough to leave us shortly, he has to have somewhere to regain his strength. I was attempting to place him in a suitable convalescent home but, as you can imagine, our funds are very limited. Your generous offer to take care of him couldn’t have come at a better time.’ He thought for a couple of moments. ‘Let me see. Today’s Friday. I imagine he’ll be well enough to leave us on Monday. Tuesday at the outside.’
    â€˜What’s actually been wrong with him?’ asked Jack curiously. He had been shocked by the sight of the sleeping man. Poor old George, although perfectly recognizable, was thin and wasted.
    â€˜He’s been suffering from influenza and malaria.’ Jack whistled sympathetically. ‘Yes,’ continued Dr Garrett, ‘it’s a nasty combination. Frankly, I