Chapter Eight

Blathers moved to a chair in front of the fire to dry while he explained the situation. “When young Childers and I got ta Alice’s flat, there were a army officer there. Alice were in tears. The officer told us he were there ta report that Major Martin were discovered stabbed ta death in his rooms. When the major didn’t arrive ta meet his regiment at the proper time, they sent this young feller to find him. When he discovered the body, he sent fer his captain, and they sent fer the Peelers.”

Clara said, “Ah, the poor girl. Is someone with her in her grief?”

“I believes she is alone now. The army man told me where the major’s digs was, so I left the Childers lad with her and went off ta investigate fer meself. When I got ta the scene, them Bobbies was everywhere. They wouldn’t talk wi’ me, of course. Ya knows how they is, don’t ya, Duff. One did say the landlady were quite upset and had run off ta the local fer some liquid courage.

“I found her there wi’ a large gin, and it weren’t her first. When I bought her a third, she was able ta finally get herself together enough ta tell me what happened.”

The landlady had told Blathers that, soon after Miss Martin left her brother’s place, two men called on the major. She said the way they were dressed made her think they were government officials. They stayed nearly an hour, and then about another hour after they left, the young army officer arrived, looking for Major Martin. When he didn’t answer his door, the landlady let the officer in and they discovered the body. The hoodlums had ransacked the rooms.

“It were quite late when I finally offered ta help the landlady back ta her digs. By that time the fog were thick as can be, and I may have had an extra pint meself. Anyway, I was finding me way in the fog when I sees these two shadows comin’ at me way wi’ what looks like clubs in their hands. All of a sudden one takes a swipe at me head. Good show there were a lamppost there that the feller didn’t notice. The club bounced off the lamppost instead o’ me. Well, we, er, I ducks into a doorway, pulls out me pistol, and fires in the direction o’ the two shadows. I hears one let out a yelp, and that’s the last I sees o’ them.”

Clara asked again, “Have you been to see Miss Martin this morning, then?”

“No, I is just getting out o’ the house now. It were very late when I gets home, you know. It took some time ta gets the full story from the landlady, and she were afraid ta go back ta her place. I needed ta help her find a place ta stay fer the night.”

No one asked Blathers any further questions about his investigation. I did notice that, when Alice was not present, Blathers cared less about the correct use of the language. Perhaps he was just excited and forgot what he had learned.

I told Blathers about the assault on me. Clara said, “You mean that Major Martin has been murdered, you, Duff, have been knocked unconscious, you, Blathers, had to fend off attackers with gunshots, and you have left poor dear Miss Martin alone?”