The Tewkesbury Tomb Read Online Free Page B

tomb.’
    ‘That is correct, sir.’
    ‘You questioned these people – there were five of them, I understand?’
    ‘Yes, sir, four gentlemen and a lady.’
    ‘And what explanation did they offer for their presence in the abbey at such a late hour?’
    ‘Said they had been talking together at the Hop Pole over dinner, and that one of them had suggested that they should go and view the inside of the abbey.’
    ‘And where are these people now?’
    ‘They are at the Hop Pole, sir, just over the road. One of the gentlemen, of military bearing, said he was anxious to return to London. Said he had an urgent appointment to keep – but I told them that you would want to speak to them all upon your arrival here, sir, and that no one should leave the town before then.’
    ‘Well done, Reynolds. You have acted well.’
    ‘Thank you, sir,’ replied the officer looking somewhat embarrassed by the compliment.
    ‘Well, Crabb, we’d better go inside and see what all this is about,’ said Ravenscroft.
    ‘Oh, one word before you goes inside, sir.’
    ‘Yes Constable?’
    ‘Thought I ought to warn you, there’s a religious gentleman, the Revd Jesterson – well, to put it mildly, he’s in a bit of a state.’
    ‘Obviously upset by last night’s events,’ suggested Ravenscroft.
    ‘You are probably correct, sir. If you would care to follow me,’ said the constable opening the door to the abbey.
    The three men entered the building and, as they made their way down the nave of the church, they were met by a tall, thin gentleman dressed in a long clerical robe.
    ‘Thank goodness you have come. What a terrible thing to have happened. Such violation, such desecration of God’s house. What unholy person could have committed such an outrage?’
    ‘Inspector Ravenscroft at your service, sir,’ interjected Ravenscroft, breaking into the clergyman’s agitated flow ofwords. ‘And this is my associate, Constable Crabb. I believe you know Constable Reynolds already.’
    ‘The Reverend Thomas Jesterson,’ he replied, shaking Ravenscroft’s hand. ‘I am so relieved that you have arrived. This terrible occurrence is beyond all comprehension!’
    ‘You are in charge of the abbey, sir?’ asked Ravenscroft, hoping to calm the other’s distressful outpourings by his line of questioning.
    ‘I see to the day-to-day running of the building, but I—’
    ‘Tell me, Reverend, is the building usually locked at night?’ asked Ravenscroft.
    ‘Why, yes, Inspector.’
    ‘And was it locked last night?’
    ‘Yes, I locked the building myself, at around eight o’clock.’
    ‘Did you notice anything unusual at the time?’
    ‘Unusual?’
    ‘Yes. Did anything seem out of place? Did you notice any strangers wandering round the building?’
    ‘No. There was no one here when I locked up the building. It was such an unpleasant evening, heavy rain and strong winds. I was quite anxious to return to my own home as quickly as possible.’
    ‘But you definitely remember locking the abbey before you left.’
    ‘I have just said that,’ replied the clergyman.
    ‘Does anyone else have access to the abbey, other than yourself?’ asked Ravenscroft, observing that his previous question had caused the other some annoyance.
    ‘The verger has the only other key.’
    ‘And he is?’
    ‘Trent. He resides at number five along the row of black and white buildings just to the side of the entrance to the abbey.’
    ‘We will question him later. Perhaps you would be kind enough to show us the tomb where the stranger’s body was found?’
    ‘Yes, of course, I do hope you will be able to apprehend the perpetrators of this unseemly act,’ said the reverend mopping his brow with a large handkerchief before leading the way further into the interior of the church.
    ‘That is our intention, Reverend,’ said Ravenscroft, trying to sound reassuring.
    ‘Here we are, Inspector. Everything is as your constable found it yesterday evening,’ said the