The Dead Songbird (The Northminster Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF Page B

setting of the canticles with his voice in mind, and I don’t know how I shall find the heart to finish it now.”

Chapter Six
    Giles stood at the front door of a narrow house in one of the narrow lanes of Northminster. It was marked by a sign: “Sledmere. Bibles and Bookbinders.”
    The blinds had all been drawn down; a “Closed” sign was propped up in the front window, while black crepe adorned the knocker. The house was already in mourning, for Giles had sent Sergeant Collins to inform the Sledmeres that their nephew was dead.
    Giles knocked and waited for some time to be admitted. At last the door was opened by a woman. She was dressed in black which did not look much like mourning, but rather her habitual attire. She frowned at him.
    “Mrs Sledmere?”
    “Yes?”
    “Major Vernon, of the City Constabulary. I have come to speak to you about your nephew. I think Sergeant Collins will have mentioned that I would call?”
    “Yes, yes, I suppose he did,” she said. “I’ll get my husband.”
    “I should like to speak to all the household, if I may?”
    “Yes, well, if you like...” she seemed nonplussed. “I’ll just get Mr Sledmere.”
    “Thank you,” he said. “May I come in?”
    “Yes, yes, you had better,” she said, closing the door behind him. “Wait here, sir, will you?”
    So Giles waited as she disappeared into the back of the house. As he stood there, he sensed he was being watched, and stepped forward a fraction so that he could see up the stairs. He peered up into the darkness and thought he saw a pale white face and some white skirts, but only for a moment. Whoever she was vanished into the shadows.
    Sledmere came out of the back of the house, pulling on his coat. He looked displeased at the interruption.
    “I am sorry to have to intrude at such a difficult time,” Giles said. “But any help you can give me now will only bring to justice sooner the person responsible for this.”
    “Then it is murder?” said Mrs Sledmere.
    “I am afraid there is little doubt of it,” said Giles.
    “As they sow, so shall they reap,” said Mr Sledmere, with a fierce shake of his head. “The vengeance of the Lord is a terrible thing, sir, a terrible and wonderful thing. A stubborn, wicked soul has been cast down into the fiery pit, and no mistake about it. The Lord God hath acted against his iniquity and sent him down. This is a great lesson to us all. For the lord your God is a jealous God, and shall not suffer a sinner to live!”
    “I am sure you are right,” Giles said, formulating his words with care, somewhat astonished by this outburst. “Perhaps you might explain a little more to me? How had your nephew offended you?”
    “It was not I who was offended!” exclaimed Sledmere. “It was against the Lord he sinned, and now he must pay for eternity. I warned him, many the times I warned him. I have been up many a night attempting to save his soul and bring him into the light of faith but he would not go. He was resolute in his sin, and this is the result.”
    “And the person who did this to Charles, what do you think of him?” Giles asked, turning to Mrs Sledmere. “Surely he has denied your nephew the chance to come to repentance. Surely he must be punished for that?”
    “You will not find him, not in mortal form,” Sledmere broke in, for Mrs Sledmere seemed about to answer. “It was the hand of the Lord. He has sent an avenging angel. That is the long and short of it.”
    “You must forgive me, sir, if I offend you, but that I cannot believe. Your nephew Charles was wilfully murdered by a fellow human, who must be found and punished for their wickedness. As a good Christian you must assist me in this. You know it is your duty.”
    There was a long silence, and then Sledmere jerked his hand towards the stairs.
    “We will go up to the parlour,” he said.
    They went into a grim little room, more like a waiting room than a place a family might use for their recreation. But Giles