Chapter 20

	The station of the parties
	Forbids publicity,
	But Justice is sublimer
	Than arms, or pedigree.
	EMILY DICKINSON

At the Rod and Gun Club on Strawberry Hill Road the pie à la mode had just been placed on the table, and the members of the Concord Independent Battery were attempting to launch it into a sea of whiskey in which fragments of spaghetti and meat balls and green salad were already bobbing uneasily around. Police Chief Jimmy Flower’s sobriety was taken as a profound tragedy and a personal insult. Jimmy was well known as a good fellow and a worthy citizen—why the heck did he look so grim? Surely he was badly in need of a little refreshment. Refreshment was thrust upon him. Chief Flower refused refreshment. Then Harvey Finn, looking him over critically, took querulous exception to Chief Flower’s rubbers. He had never, he said, seen a more teetotalling, puritanical pair of rubbers in his life. “Take ’em off,” he commanded, weaving imperiously across the floor.

“Take ’em off, take ’em off, ree-move ’em,” sang Jerry Toplady.

Chief Flower ignored Harvey Finn. He crossed the room in his rubbers and sat down at the table beside Philip Goss. He put his chin in his small hand and looked at Philip. Philip’s face was highly colored. He leaned back in his chair unsteadily, and looked back at Chief Flower.

“Where is your father, Philip?” said Chief Flower.

“My father?” said Philip, seeming to think it over. He turned his head around jerkily. “He wazh here a while ’go.”

“He went out, that’s right, a while ago, ’n ’e didn’ even come back, I guess.” Jerry Toplady nodded and nodded. “See? He didn’t even eat his dinner.”

“What time did he go out?”

“Jeez,” said Jerry proudly. “I couldn’ even see the clock. I was unner the table half ’n hour awready.”

Chief Flower turned back to Philip. “Your father is dead, Philip. He was killed by someone with a musket ball at the North Bridge a little while ago. A witness saw a man dressed like Sam Prescott riding away on horseback immediately after the shot was fired.”

Philip Goss lost all his high color abruptly. He stood up suddenly and stooped over and started to run, his hand over his mouth. Chief Flower started up out of his chair, then sat down again. Philip was going to the bathroom to be sick. After a while he came back and leaned weakly against the wall, looking very white indeed. The members of the Battery looked at one another in shocked silence.

“I don’t know what you want with me,” said Philip coldly. “I know nothing about it. Nor will I answer any questions until I can discuss the matter with George.”

“George?” said Jimmy. “George who?”

“George Jarvis. My law partner.”