Murder on the Salsette (26 page)

“You are very popular this morning, Mr. Dillman.”

“Not with all the passengers,” he said, thinking of the two women who were locked up in the cells. “And I don't think that I'm Sukinder's favorite person since I put her under arrest.”

“What will happen to Suki?”

“That's for the magistrate to decide, Mr. Singh. In fairness to him, Major Kinnersley is taking full responsibility. As soon as the mail is unloaded in Aden, he's sailing back to Bombay on the
Salsette
with her, so that his daughter can face justice in her own country. Given her age,” he said, “I suspect that she'll be treated very leniently.”

“Suki is not a criminal. She was forced to do what she did.”

“I think that the major appreciates that.”

“Does he accept that she belongs with her family in India?”

“Yes, Mr. Singh.”

“That is good.”

He looked over Dillman's shoulder and smiled serenely when he saw Genevieve Masefield approaching them. They exchanged greetings. Genevieve looked contrite.

“You will be glad to see the back of me, Mr. Singh.”

“Not at all,” he said. “You only did what you thought was right.”

“I misjudged you cruelly,” she confessed, “and I'm terribly sorry for that. I feel so guilty about it. Please forgive me.”

“You hear that, Mr. Dillman?” asked Singh, beaming. “This is the
third apology I have had from this beautiful lady detective. Do you remember what I said to you the other day?”

“Oh, yes,” recalled the other. “I remember it very well. You told me that the English never apologize.”

“However did you make your partner do it
three
times in a row?”

“That's easy,” said Dillman, winking at Genevieve. “I married her.”

POSTSCRIPT

W
hen war broke out in September 1914, the
Salsette
continued her normal routine between Bombay and Aden. In November 1915, she made her first sailing from London to Bombay, taking her place on the Indian or Australian mail routes. In July 1917, sailing from London to Sydney via Bombay, and carrying onboard a large amount of money to pay the British garrison in Egypt, she was hit by a German torpedo some fifteen miles southwest of Portland Bill. Fifty minutes later, she sank. Fifteen members of the crew lost their lives.

About the Author

Conrad Allen is better known as Edward Marston, the Edgar-nominated author of the Nicholas Bracewell series and of several other historical mysteries. He lives in England.

Find out more about him at
www.edwardmarston.com