The Religious Body by Catherine Aird Page B

must be prepared for a shock.”
    He laughed shortly. “I know she’ll be a changed woman. No one’s the same after twenty years. I’m not the same man myself if it comes to that.”
    The Mother Prioress lowered her head. “I have no doubt that great changes have been wrought by the passage of time in you both but that is not the point. I am sorry to have to tell you that the sudden death into which Inspector Sloan is enquiring is that of your cousin, Sister Anne.”
    Harold Cartwright sat very still. “You mean Josephine’s dead?”
    â€œYes, Mr. Cartwright.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œShe died last night.”
    â€œWhy the police?”
    â€œShe was found dead at the foot of a flight of steps.”
    â€œAn accident, surely?”
    â€œWe hope so.”
    â€œIt couldn’t be anything else here. I mean, not in a Convent.”
    â€œI would like to think not,” agreed the Mother Prioress, “but that matter is not yet resolved.”
    Cartwright turned to Sloan again. “Why might it not be an accident? Would anyone want to harm my cousin?”
    â€œI don’t know, sir. I was hoping that you might be able to tell us.”
    â€œMe? I haven’t had sight nor sound of her for twenty years.”
    â€œYou’re not her only relation?”
    â€œNo. Her father—my uncle—died years ago, but her mother’s still alive.…”
    â€œMrs. Alfred Cartwright, 17 Strelitz Square?”
    â€œThat’s right. How did you know?”
    â€œThe Convent records,” said Sloan briefly.
    â€œThey didn’t get on.”
    â€œI inferred that.”
    â€œMy aunt is a very strong-minded woman. She greatly resented my cousin taking her vows. I don’t think she has ever forgiven her.”
    â€œI am sure she has been forgiven,” interposed the Reverend Mother.
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œBy Sister Anne.”
    â€œOh, I see what you mean. Yes, of course.” It didn’t seem as if Harold Cartwright had thought of this at all. He waved a hand vaguely. “Before she died, you mean.…”
    â€œMany years ago,” said the Mother Prioress firmly. “It would not be possible to live the life of a true religious and harbor that sort of unforgiveness.”
    â€œNo, no, I can see that.”
    Sloan coughed. “Now, sir, perhaps you’ll tell us what it was that was so important that you had to see her about after all these years.”
    But that was something Harold Cartwright obviously did not want to do. “What? Oh, yes, of course. What I’d come to see her about?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWell, it’s not really relevant now she’s dead. Just a family matter, that’s all. Nothing that would concern anyone now, you understand.” He gave a quick smile. “Death cancels all that sort of thing, doesn’t it?”
    â€œNo,” said the Mother Prioress directly. “Not in my experience.”
    â€œNo? Perhaps not, but it does alter them, and it has altered all I had come to see her about.”
    Sloan let it ride. This was only the beginning. “Will you be leaving Cullingoak tonight?” he asked him.
    â€œNo. Not now—I think I’d better stay on, don’t you?” He frowned. “Though there’s my aunt. Perhaps I ought to go back to tell her.…”
    â€œI’ll do that,” said Sloan suddenly.
    Harold Cartwright said, “Thank you.” He looked back to the Mother Superior and said diffidently. “There’ll be a funeral, I take it—would I be allowed to come to that?”
    She nodded briskly. “Of course, Mr. Cartwright. But first there is, I understand, to be a post-mortem.…”
    Cartwright looked quickly at the inspector.
    â€œTo establish the exact cause of death,” said Sloan.
    It was dark when Sloan came out to Cullingoak for the second time that day. There were