Eight
KELVIN HALLIDAY’S DELUSION¹
T hey were in the garden on the following morning when Mrs. Cocker came out and said: “Excuse me, sir. There’s aDoctor Kennedy on the telephone.”
Leaving Gwenda in consultation² with old Foster, Giles went into the house and picked up the telephone receiver.
“Giles Reed here.”
“This is Dr. Kennedy. I’ve been thinking over our conversation yesterday, Mr. Reed. There are certain facts whichI think perhaps you and your wife ought to know. Will you be at home if I come over this afternoon?”
“Certainly we shall. What time?”
“Three o’clock?”
“Suits us.”
In the garden old Foster said to Gwenda, “Is that Dr. Kennedy as used to live over at West Cliff?”
“I expect so. Did you know him?”
“E was allus reckoned to be the best doctor here—not but what Dr. Lazenby wasn’t more popular. Always had aword and a laugh to jolly you along, Dr. Lazenby did. Dr. Kennedy was always short and a bit dry, like—but he knewhis job.”
“When did he give up his practice?”
“Long time ago now. Must be fifteen years or so. His health broke down, so they say.”
Giles came out of the window and answered Gwenda’s unspoken question.
“He’s coming over this afternoon.”
“Oh.” She turned once more to Foster. “Did you know Dr. Kennedy’s sister at all?”
“Sister? Not as I remember. She was only a bit of a lass. Went away to school, and then abroad, though I heard shecome back here for a bit after she married. But I believe she run off with some chap—always wild she was, they said.
Don’t know as I ever laid eyes on her myself. I was in a job over to Plymouth for a while, you know.”
Gwenda said to Giles as they walked to the end of the terrace, “Why is he coming?”
“We’ll know at three o’clock.”
Dr. Kennedy arrived punctually. Looking round the drawing room he said: “Seems odd to be here again.”
Then he came to the point without preamble⁴.
“I take it that you two are quite determined⁵ to track down the Sanatorium where Kelvin Halliday died and learn allthe details you can about his illness and death?”

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