The Sussex Downs Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

head.
    â€œDear me, no—there’s no doubt about their origin.” He picked up a couple of the smaller bones and held them out on his palm. “Now just look at these, gentlemen. Two beautiful examples of metacarpel from the hand of an adult male. And here”—he held up another specimen. “The upper half of a sawn-off tibia. Whilst this curious-looking object is what we call the sesamoid patella. You may be aware of what that is in common speech, eh, gentlemen?”
    â€œA knee-cap,” hazarded Meredith with a wink at the Inspector.
    â€œQuite right,” beamed the Professor, as if congratulating a student on an unexpected piece of bone-lore. “A human knee-cap. This really is a most comprehensive collection, isn’t it? First a femur, then a tibia—ah, and here’s a pretty portion of fibula, to which must be added our sesamoid patella. In other words we could almost construct the framework of a right-hand male leg from the hip to half-way down the shin. Most interesting, eh?”
    â€œVery,” said Meredith dryly. “And extremely helpful, too, sir. Now suppose by any chance I am able to collect the…well, let us say the missing pieces of the jig-saw, could you fit the puzzle together for me, Professor?”
    â€œMost certainly. I could make you a really lovely skeleton, provided all your bones belong to the same adult.”
    â€œDo these seem to fit?” asked Meredith patly.
    â€œAt a casual glance I should say ‘Yes’—but if I may take them with me I could—”
    â€œDo. And let me know the result as soon as possible.”
    â€œTomorrow at the latest.”
    â€œGood. Would you get in touch with me direct—Lewes 0099?”
    The Professor beamed again. “It’s all very unusual, isn’t it? Dear me! I never suspected that one day I might be called in to help to solve a murder. Most interesting. Most interesting.”
    And collecting up the relics, the Professor bade the officials good day and disappeared humming a little tune.
    â€œThat old fellow’s going to be useful,” was Meredith’s inward comment as he left the police station. “If we get anything like what he calls ‘a comprehensive collection’ there’ll have to be an inquest. But it will take an outsize piece of luck, I reckon, to prove the identity of the skeleton!”
    As it was then very late he decided to visit Chalklands the following morning.
    Just after nine o’clock, therefore, his car turned up the lane which led to the farmhouse from the main road and a little later drew up in front of the long white verandah. A girl was watering some potted geraniums, ranged in tiers, between two enormous sash-windows. On seeing the car draw up she put down her can and came forward to greet the Superintendent.
    â€œGood morning, ma’am. Is Mr. William Rother around anywhere?”
    â€œMy husband? Yes, I think he’s out by the kilns somewhere.”
    â€œThank you, Mrs. Rother. Perhaps, as I’m not in uniform, I ought to explain that I’m a police superintendent investigating the disappearance of your husband’s brother. My name’s Meredith.”
    The girl looked startled for a moment, then, with an uneasy glance round, said in a low voice:
    â€œMy husband’s worried to death over this dreadful affair, Mr. Meredith. It seems to be preying on his mind. Although he says little about it, I know he’s thinking and thinking all the time about John. Tell me honestly—what chance do you think there is of John ever turning up?”
    Meredith hesitated, appraised the agitated young lady with a judicious eye and for some instinctive reason decided to equivocate.
    â€œIt’s quite beyond me to say. Missing people have sometimes turned up years after their disappearance.”
    â€œBut hurt like that—surely it’s inconceivable that he could have wandered