The Tewkesbury Tomb by Kerry Tombs Read Free Book Online Page B

to the abbey, when our two previous speakers claimed otherwise. The more I interview these people, the more I am coming to the conclusion that they are not telling us the truth.’
    ‘Who would you like next, sir – Ganniford or Jenkins?’
    ‘Oh, let us have the pair of them in together,’ sighed Ravenscroft, ‘After all, I believe they travelled here to Tewkesbury together, from what Reynolds was saying.’
    Before Crabb could leave the room however, the door was abruptly thrown open and a large, red-faced man of more than ample girth strode up to Ravenscroft’s desk. ‘Look here, my man, we are confoundedly annoyed with having to loiter around all morning waiting to be seen!’
    ‘I’m sorry to have kept you, gentlemen; we had to question your companions first, as I am sure you will appreciate,’ said Ravenscroft, trying not be put off by this sudden intrusion.
    ‘Blessed if I will appreciate it, sir!’ retorted the new arrival, wheezing as he spoke.
    ‘You must excuse my colleague’s impetuosity,’ said the second, grey-haired, thin-faced, gentleman entering the room.
    ‘Perhaps you would both care to take a seat, gentlemen? I hopenot to detain you for very much longer.’
    ‘I sincerely hope not, sir,’ grumbled the fat gentleman.
    ‘I am sure the inspector will be as quick as he can with his questions, Ganniford,’ said the elder gentleman accepting a seat and seeking to placate his companion.
    ‘Thank you gentlemen. I understand that both of you are acquainted with one another?’ asked Ravenscroft.
    ‘Mr Ganniford and I have known one another for the past fifteen years,’ replied Jenkins.
    ‘I presume that you travelled to Tewkesbury together?’
    ‘Of course we did,’ grumbled Ganniford, sinking into the chair.
    ‘Can I ask the reason for your visit to Tewkesbury?’
    ‘We had reason to visit the Ashmolean in Oxford, and thought we might like to extend our stay by several days, exploring Tewkesbury and the surrounding area, before our return to London,’ said Jenkins in a matter-of-fact voice.
    ‘May I ask where you reside in London?’ enquired Ravenscroft.
    ‘Don’t see what that has to do with this affair,’ complained Ganniford.
    ‘My colleague resides in Suffolk Gardens, I have rooms near Lincoln’s Inn,’ offered Jenkins.
    ‘Why did you decide to visit the abbey yesterday evening?’ asked Ravenscroft changing the subject of his questioning.
    ‘We had been talking together over dinner. Miss Eames was saying that she had always wanted to visit the abbey to view the monuments there, so it was decided that we would go and have a tour round the place,’ offered Ganniford.
    ‘Who decided that, sir?’
    ‘How the blazes do you expect us to remember that?’ complained Ganniford. ‘It cannot be of any great importancewho suggested the visit.’
    ‘I think it is of the greatest importance,’ said Ravenscroft, leaning back in his chair and studying the two men.
    ‘I believe it was probably the major,’ said Jenkins.
    ‘Thank you, sir. It was rather late in the evening to go visiting the abbey,’ suggested Ravenscroft. ‘And I believe it was raining quite heavily.’
    ‘Not afraid of the weather; rain never hurt anyone,’ mumbled Ganniford.
    ‘I know, Mr Ravenscroft, that it must appear rather strange to you that a group of strangers should all decide to visit the abbey at such a late hour, but we had all been talking so earnestly together and none of us wished to wait until the morning to begin our journey of exploration,’ said Jenkins, staring over the top of his glasses at Ravenscroft.
    ‘Wanted to see the tomb of that Templar fellow,’ added Ganniford.
    ‘Ah yes, Sir Roger de la Pole. You must be acquainted with the life of the knight?’ asked Ravenscroft, addressing Jenkins.
    ‘I know that Sir Roger was one of the Knights Templar, that he made at least one journey to the Holy Land and that he finally settled and died in this area, hence the reason for his