25-06-30 Seven Mr. Waterhouse, hovering uncertainly on the steps of 18, Wilbraham Cres-cent, looked back nervously at his sister. Youre quite sure youll be all right? said Mr. Waterhouse. Miss Waterhouse snorted with some indignation. I really dont know what...

25-06-30 II I arrived the next morning promptly at the agreed hour and found myfriend literally fuming with rage. When he had dismissed an unhappy subordinate, I inquired delicatelywhat had happened. For a moment Hardcastle seemed unable to speak. Then he sp...

25-06-30 Six COLIN LAMBS NARRATIVE IWhen we had put ourselves outside two good underdone steaks, washeddown with draught beer, Dick Hardcastle gave a sigh of comfortable reple-tion, announced that he felt better and said: To hell with dead insurance agents,...

25-06-30 Five Mom! said Ernie Curtin, desisting for a moment from his occupation ofrunning a small metal model up and down the window pane, accompany-ing it with a semi-zooming, semi-moaning noise intended to reproduce arocket ship going through outer space...

25-06-30 Four COLIN LAMBS NARRATIVE Where do we go? I asked Dick Hardcastle. He spoke to the driver. Cavendish Secretarial Bureau. Its on Palace Street, up towards theEsplanade on the right. Yes, sir. The car drew away. There was quite a little crowd by now,...

25-06-30 Three Hardcastle stared. Oh come, Miss Pebmarsh. What about that beautiful Dresden chinaclock on the mantelpiece? And a small French clockormolu. And a silvercarriage clock, andoh yes, the clock with Rosemary across the corner. It was Miss Pebmarshs...

25-06-30 Two At 19, Wilbraham Crescent the machinery of the Law was in possession. There was a police surgeon, a police photographer, fingerprint men. Theymoved efficiently, each occupied with his own routine. Finally came Detective Inspector Hardcastle, a t...

25-06-30 II An unemotional voice said, Crowdean Police Station. Can I speak to Detective Inspector Hardcastle? The voice said cautiously: I dont know whether he is here. Who is speaking? Tell him its Colin Lamb. Just a moment, please. I waited. Then Dick Har...

25-06-30 One COLIN LAMBS NARRATIVE ITo use police terms: at 2:59 p.m. on September 9th, I was proceeding alongWilbraham Crescent in a westerly direction. It was my first introductionto Wilbraham Crescent, and frankly Wilbraham Crescent had me baffled. I had...

25-06-30 Prologue The afternoon of the 9th of September was exactly like any other after-noon. None of those who were to be concerned in the events of that daycould lay claim to having had a premonition of disaster. (With the excep-tion, that is, of Mrs. Pac...