Hickory Dickory Dock

"I'm not sure, you know, comt that doesn't invalidate the bet. Of course, I'd no idea-was "But Nigel, it was really dangerous keeping it there." "Oh, Lord, Pat, must you always fuss so? What did you do with the actual stuff?" "I put it in the Sodi Bic bottle and hid it at the back of my handkerchief drawer." Nigel looked at her in mild surprise.

"Really, Pat, your logical thought processes beggar description! What was all the point?" "I felt it was safer there." "My dear girl, either the morphia should have been under lock and key, or If it wasn't, it couldn't really matter whether it was among my socks or your handkerchiefs." "Well, it did marter. For one thing, I have a room to myself and you share yours." "Why, you don't think poor old Len was going to pinch the morphia off me, do you?" "I wasn't going to tell you about it, ever, but I must now. Because, you see, it's gone." "'allyou mean the police have swiped it?" "No. It disappeared before that." "Do you mean… hiswas Nigel gazed at her in consternation. "Let's get this straight. There's a bottle labelled 'Sodi Bic," containing morphine sulphate, which is knocking about the place somewhere, and at any time someone may take a heaping teaspoonful of it If they've got a pain in their middle? Good God, Pat! You have done it! Why the hell didn't you throw the stuff away If you were so upset about it?" "Because I thought it was valuable and ought to go back to the hospital instead of being just thrown away. As soon as you'd won your bet, I meant to give it to Celia and ask her to put it back." "You're sure you didn't give it to her, and she took it and it was suicide, and it was all my fault?" "Calm down. When did it disappear?" "I don't know exactly. I looked for it the day before Celia died. I couldn't find it, but I just thought I'd perhaps put it somewhere else." "It was gone the day before she died?" "I suppose," said Patricia, her face white, "that I've been very stupid." "That's putting it mildly," said Nigel.

"To what lengths can a muddled mind and an active conscience go! Is "Nigel. D'you think I ought to tell the police?" "Oh, hell!" said Nigel. "I suppose so, yes. And it's going to be all my fault." "Oh, no, Nigel darling, it's me. l" "I pinched the damned stuff in the first place," said Nigel. "It all seemed to be a very amusing stunt at the time. But now-I can already hear the vitriolic remarks from the bench." "I am sorry. When I took it I really meant it for" "You meant it for the best. I know. I know! Look here, Pat, I simply can't believe the stuff has disappeared. You've forgotten just where you put it.

You do mislay things sometimes, you know." "Yes, but-was She hesitated, a shade of doubt appearing on her frowning face.

Nigel rose briskly.

"Let's go along to your room and have a thorough search." "Nigel, those are my underclothes." "Really, Pat, you can't go all prudish on me at this stage. Down among the panties is just where you would hide a bottle, now, isn't it?" "Yes, but I'm sure I-was "We cant be sure of anything until we've looked everywhere. And I'm jolly well going to do it." There was a perfunctory tap on the door and Sally Finch entered. Her eyes widened with surprise. Pat, clasping a handful of Nigel's socks, was sitting on the bed, and Nigel, the bureau drawers all pulled out, was burrowing like an excited terrier into a heap of pullovers whilst about him were strewn panties, brassiandres, stockings and other component parts of female attire.

"For land's sake," said Sally, "what goes on?" "Looking for bicarbonate," said Nigel briefly.

"Bicarbonate? Why?" "I've got a pain," said Nigel grinning.

"A pain in my turn-turn-turn-and nothing but bicarbonate will assuage it." "I've got some somewhere, I believe." "No good, Sally, it's got to be Pat's.

Hers is the only brand that will ease my particular ailment." "You're crazy," said Sally. "What's he up to, Pat?" Patricia shook her head miserably.

"You haven't seen my Sodi Bic, have you, Sally?" she asked. "Just a little in the bottom of the bottle." "No." Sally looked at her curiously. Then she frowned. "Let me see. Somebody around here-no, I can't remember- Have you got a stamp, Pat? I have to mail a letter and I've run out." "In the drawer there." Sally opened the shallow drawer of the writing table, took out a book of stamps, extracted one, affixed it to the letter she held in her hand, dropped the stamp book back in the drawer, and put two pence halfpenny on the desk.

"Thanks. Shall I mail this letter of yours at the same time?" "Yes-no- No, I think I'll wait." Sally nodded and left the room.

Pat dropped the socks she had been holding, and twisted her fingers nervously together.

"Nigel?" "Yes?" Nigel had transferred his attention to the wardrobe and was looking in the pockets of a coat.

"There's something else I've got to confess." "Good Lord, Pat, what else have you been doing?" "I'm afraid you'll be angry." "I'm past being angry. I'm just plain scared.