Terry Minahan - The Adventures of Thadeus Burke Vol 1

As Thadeus was probably the only person in the room wearing a top hat it was easy to spot him. On this occasion Thadeus had spotted James on his way to the rostrum and had simply raised his hat confident that eventually James would come over to him even though he continued his conversation with an underwriter.

As James approached Thadeus was leaving the box and saying goodbye to the underwriter.

‘I am very grateful, sir, for the time that you have allowed me, and the careful attention that you have given to my proposals,’ said Thadeus

‘No luck there then!’ said James as they moved out of hearing range of the box.

‘No. Damned man will not write any cotton mills.’

James enlightened Thadeus about his fortuitous meeting with young Payne.

Thadeus was delighted, advising James to get a policy wording and, if possible, a set of rates from the underwriter. ‘I think they have different premium rates for each type of vehicle and I think they have different rates for different areas of the country.’ Thadeus continued. ‘I have a lunch date with that CID inspector. He is entertaining me at the George & Vulture, so I am only a few yards away if you should need me.’

They continued together with their broking work. By 12.50 pm the cotton mill had 70 per cent in written lines, 25 per cent from the leader and three lines of 15 per cent, and 12½ per cent in promised lines, a 7½ per cent and a 5 per cent – a total of 82½ per cent. Thadeus would need at least three or maybe four extra underwriters to finish his slip. It would not be easy and he might end up scrabbling around for 2½ per cent lines. As a last resort one of the 15 per cent lines might increase a bit.

They walked up Cornhill together to their luncheon dates.

Thadeus had not spoken to Inspector Johnny Jackson since the Whelan affair, other than accepting his invitation to lunch. At the George & Vulture the inspector was inside the doorway checking his table booking. They shook hands and said hello, took their seats and exchanged some general banter with Lucy, their waitress, a bright young thing, wearing the full ceremonial dress of her trade, including the strange, and useless, little white hat.

A decent bottle of red wine was already opened on the table. Both ordered a steak – the sirloin had been recommended by Lucy – with bubble and squeak and cabbage. No starter as they agreed that they would have spotted dick for afters.

‘How is the world of crime?’ asked Thadeus.

‘Nothing serious in the city, but around the country there is much unrest following the strike compromise on “Red Friday”. Many of the militant miners are already being cruelly victimized by the employers and that is leading to violence and theft; a very sad situation.’

‘I agree,‘ replied Thadeus. ’I think that the TUC will just sell off the miners to help the Labour Party.’

‘There certainly appears to be a lot of underhand political shenanigans,’ posited the inspector and, sensing that Thadeus was about to launch himself into an economics debate, wisely changed the subject. ‘So, how is the world of insurance?’

‘Do I detect an unusual leaning towards the left-wing in a policeman?’ asked Thadeus, refusing to be deflected by the new question.

‘No, I would not regard myself as in any way a political animal, but I do have a passionate belief in justice, as I think every policeman should. And I feel that quite often privileged social groups within our country have held on to what they see as economic advantages which act as a catalyst for justifiable reaction. Whereas the greater social and economic justice to all people would be of the greater advantage to all classes of society. Look at the unnecessary suppression of Jews, Catholics and, more recently, women. And, before you comment, I am not going to discuss the Land Question,’ harangued Jackson.

‘You have certainly done your homework on me!’ responded Thadeus with a smile. ‘Burke & Co are progressing as well as can be expected, as one of the directors might say.’

‘A doctor on the board?’

‘Not quite, my sister is in her final year at Edinburgh, although at present she is working in a hospital down here.’ Then, changing tack Thadeus went on. ‘There are rumours in the Room of one, or maybe more, underwriters leaving some of their figures out of the audit. Are you involved in looking into that?’

‘I have been shown evidence of substantial financial guarantee business that seems to be avoiding the watchful eye of the committee, but it is not a subject for general discussion,’ said Jackson sotto voce .

‘Well, if I can be of any help, let me know,’ said Thadeus.

‘I thought you were busy solving the Sir Percy Dennington case for me.’

‘I’ve made a few enquiries,’ defended Thadeus. ‘I know nothing of the alleged crime, but I now know more about the deceased. The fourth son of Sir Henry Dennington, inherited the baronetcy following the death of all three of his elder brothers in the war. Perhaps there is a crime there? ‘

‘One of the brothers was “missing, believed died in action”,’ corrected Jackson.

‘If he appeared suddenly, he would be ahead of Percy in the title and money stakes anyway, so there is no motive for murder’. I had met Sir Percy in the course of business. He was not a very prominent member of the Manning’s syndicate; ‘third man’ on the box, handling endorsements and some simple underwriting. I had shown him a piece of bloodstock business, and I was aware that he was interested in thoroughbred breeding. I think he personally owned a couple of horses. ‘I understand that he drank a poison. Can you give me more details of that?’

‘Arsenic,’ came the simple reply. ‘Drank it in a glass of Drambuie. Arsenic can taste quite sweet, so a glass of Drambuie would be ideal cover. But for a fatal dose you need quite a large amount. With a small amount you get sick, symptoms vary according to the dose, but generally there is vomiting and diarrhoea. The bottle carried a huge amount and the one, or possibly two, large glasses that he consumed was more than enough to finish him off.’

‘Two large glasses of Drambuie is unusual,’ said Thadeus

‘Yes. Either two glasses or the one glass filled to the brim, according to the pathologist. Sir Percy was drinking from a small brandy balloon. That is what I think swung the verdict towards suicide,’ replied Jackson.

‘I quite often use a small brandy balloon for liqueurs. There is a cocktail drink, popular at the Savoy called a “rusty nail”, Drambuie and Whisky. I drink it sometimes with a knob of ice,’ informed Thadeus.

They had finished their steak and were awaiting the pudding, but when Lucy arrived at the table she advised Jackson that he was required urgently on the telephone.

Meanwhile the two James had been enjoying similar fare just round the corner. Steak and kidney pie, or Kate and Sydney as the South London lads called it, also with bubble and squeak. But it was to be followed by cheese and a glass of port.

Jim avoided any reference to Cambridge, which Jimmy clearly wanted forgotten, and they got down to some serious insurance work. The Payne syndicate would grant Burke & Co a binding authority, allowing them to issue certificates of insurance to motor vehicle owners. The syndicate would supply a pad of these certificates and a set of detailed rates for use all over the country. The commission was not high, just 15 per cent, but the underwriter handled all the claims direct with the insured, and so the broker had no work to do in that field, unless there was a problem of course.

‘What excess do you have?’ asked Jim.

‘A standard £5 excess each and every loss for material damage, but no excess on the third party section in respect of bodily injury. That seems to be the market norm. However clients can reduce the premium by carrying an increased excess amount,’ was the reply.