Augusta was relieved to finally leave hospital and get back to her bookshop. Sparky seemed happy to see her again and even treated her to a song. The pain in her ribs was improving, but she was careful not to do too much to avoid a scolding from Philip and Fred.
Mr Ramsden called in at her shop on her first day back. Clearly, he was still keen to buy her books, even though Philip was no longer working for him.
‘It’s a pleasure to see you here again, Mr Ramsden,’ she said.
‘That’s because I can’t go without my weekly visit to your delightful shop, Mrs Peel. I’m a quick reader and so here I am, back for more.’ He smiled. ‘Although I shan’t be paying a visit to your friend, Mr Fisher, today. He’s no longer working for me.’
Augusta feigned ignorance. ‘Is he not?’
‘No. Unfortunately, he’s attracted the attentions of my wife. She always responds well to a handsome face. And that’s the mistake I made in choosing Mr Fisher, I think. I should have perhaps found someone who is less likely to catch her attention. A woman, perhaps? Now there’s a thought. Mr Fisher mentioned to me that you do a bit of sleuthing yourself, Mrs Peel. I don’t suppose you’d be interested in the work, would you?’
‘Oh.’ Augusta hadn’t expected the question. ‘What sort of work, Mr Ramsden?’
‘Gathering evidence on my wife’s infidelity.’
She made her excuse quickly. ‘I’m afraid this shop keeps me far too busy to devote any time to such a task, Mr Ramsden.’
‘Well, that is a shame. Because you’re the sort of lady my wife wouldn’t look twice at.’
‘Is that a compliment or an insult, Mr Ramsden?’
‘Good grief, what a terrible thing I said! It makes me sound as though I’m describing you as completely plain and uninteresting. Nothing could be further from the truth, Mrs Peel. What I’m trying to say is you have a certain ordinariness about you. And I hope you’re not offended by that. Your appearance allows you to blend in. Your clothes don’t seek attention and you don’t paint your face with bold colours. My wife, being the sort of lady she is, would probably stroll past you without realising you were following her. That said, I can tell it isn’t a job you particularly wish to take on. So I shall cease discussion of it and browse the shelves of your shop, if I may?’
‘Of course, Mr Ramsden.’
After Mr Ramsden had bought three books, Fred told Augusta what he had learned about Dr Jackson from reading about his trial in old newspapers at the library.
‘He told people his name was Dr Herbert Jackson. He’d been an army doctor in India and, during his time there, he’d learned about traditional preparations which Indian people used to treat various ailments. On his return to Britain, he decided to use this knowledge to make and sell preparations of his own. He left the army and created Jackson’s Blood Purifier. It sold well, and he set up a small laboratory and factory in Finchley.’
‘Finchley?’
‘Yes.’
‘Where the Connolly family lives. Sorry to interrupt you Fred, please continue.’
‘He also rented a room on Harley Street to give himself and his product a more exclusive reputation. The medicine was quite expensive, but the high price reassured people it was good quality. Dr Jackson advertised to people who could afford this price, including the readers of Aristo magazine. He also extolled its health benefits to people who liked to exercise, such as the readers of the Cycling Club Magazine.’
‘Which must be how Alexander Miller learned about it!’ said Augusta.
‘Miller took the remedy?’
‘Yes. He told John Gibson that it made him cycle faster.’
‘So this is why you asked me to look into Dr Jackson.’
‘Yes. We have a connection with Miller and Finchley now. Please continue, Fred.’
‘Once Jackson’s Blood Purifier was an established success, Dr Herbert Jackson began work on a new remedy. It was described as a health boosting remedy to help people live healthier, longer lives. And this is where Dr Jackson got into trouble. He paid people to try out the new remedy and accidentally poisoned one of them.’
‘Was the person named in the trial?’
‘Yes, Stephen Allen. He fell unwell after leaving Dr Jackson’s laboratory and collapsed in the street. He was taken to hospital and Dr Jackson’s new remedy was examined. It was found to contain cocaine, and a large dose had been administered to Mr Allen. When the British Medical Association investigated, it discovered Dr Jackson wasn’t a doctor at all. His name was Daniel Collins, and he had never been an army doctor. Nor had he ever travelled to India. He was fifty-eight years old, lived in Finchley, and had worked as a travelling salesman for a soap company before inventing his blood purifier.’
‘What a scoundrel!’
‘Jackson’s Blood Purifier was removed from sale and the medicine was examined by the British Medical Association,’ said Fred. ‘It wasn’t as dangerous as the remedy which had poisoned people. It was found to contain alcohol, water and sugar.’
‘Which is what the pharmacist on my street told me,’ said Augusta. ‘So Dr Jackson charged people a high price for something which was completely ineffective. What happened to him?’
‘He stood trial in 1912 for the poisoning. The judge found Mr Collins hadn’t intentionally poisoned Mr Allen, he’d only done so because he’d been ignorant about the effects of cocaine. The judge was critical of the fact Collins had pretended to be a doctor when he had no medical qualifications. Despite everything, the judge actually praised his salesmanship and told him he should have remained working for the soap company.’
‘What was his sentence?’
‘Five years.’
‘So he went to prison and lost his lucrative business.’
‘Yes. What does this have to do with Alexander Miller?’
‘I’m not sure yet. But he used Jackson’s Blood Purifier and swore that it helped him cycle faster. And his accident with Mr Connolly took place in Finchley. So we know he visited the place.’
‘Perhaps it’s more a coincidence?’
Perhaps it could be. But maybe it isn’t and he knew Dr Jackson? Or Daniel Collins, to give him his real name.’
Chapter 51
‘Jackson’s Blood Purifier and Finchley,’ said Augusta once she had explained the latest development to Philip. ‘That’s what Dr Jackson and Alexander Miller have in common.’
