title: The Ascent of the Detective: Police Sleuths in Victorian and Edwardian England
author:  Haia Shpayer-Makov 
description: <br>"[W]ell written and exhaustively researched....The writing is extremely clear and precise, and the author's choice of illuminating examples enlivens her analysis considerably."--<em>Journal of Modern History</em>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  ### CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  
  
  
  
  
  The doorbell rang and he answered it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Detective-Inspector Laker stood there, holding a briefcase, looking up with
  his habitual expression of sadness. ‘Ah, you’re back, Mr. Marshall,’ he said,
  though it was no surprise. He had watched Graham’s return from the Ford Escort
  parked opposite.
  
  
  
  
  
  ‘Yes.’
  
  
  
  
  
  ‘I’ve come in connection with your mother-in-law, Mrs Lilian Hinchcliffe.’
  
  
  
  
  
  ‘Yes, I’ve only just heard the news. From Charmian, my . . . sister-in-law.’
  Graham estimated that his voice sounded properly shocked. ‘Won’t you come in,
  Detective-Inspector?’
  
  
  
  
  
  ‘Thank you.’
  
  
  
  
  
  In the sitting-room instinctively they took the chairs they had used on their
  previous encounter.
  
  
  
  
  
  ‘It’s terrible,’ said Graham. ‘You know there have been a couple of previous
  attempts?’
  
  
  
  
  
  ‘Yes, yes.’ The Detective-Inspector nodded slowly. ‘I’ve been investigating
  all the background.’
  
  
  
  
  
  ‘She was rather unstable, I’m afraid. Prone to dramatic gestures.’
  
  
  
  
  
  ‘Yes. Li