Title: The North-Thain's Murder
Author: Kathryn Ramage 
Email: kramage@erols.com
Code: Frodo/Sam, Merry/Pippin
Rating: PG13

Summary: Frodo is invited to Long Cleeve by the Thain of the North-
Tooks to solve a murder that hasn't actually happened. 

Notes: This story takes place in the late summer of 1423 (S.R.).
 
Disclaimer: The characters and overall storyline are certainly not
mine. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien's estate, and I'm just playing
with them to entertain myself and anyone else who likes this kind of
thing.

October 2007

!~|i|~! 

Brabantius Took, Thain of Long Cleeve and head of the North-Took
family, sat alone in his study. He poured a glass of wine from the
decanter set on its silver tray, which had been moved from its place
on the sideboard to the small table at his elbow, as it was every
afternoon at this hour. He held the filled glass up to the light,
gazing into the dark red depths of the liquid for a long while, but
did not drink. 

After a few minutes of considering the wine, he set the glass down
and tugged the bell-pull to ring for his butler. "Has he come yet,
Tulipant?" he asked when the servant arrived.

"No, your Thainship," came the reply, "but a watch is being kept on
the road from the south."

"Inform me as soon as the investigator arrives."

The butler Tulipant bowed. "It will be done, your Thainship."

!~|*|~!

"It can't be much farther now," Merry said hopefully as the four
hobbits slowed their ponies to peer at the signpost planted at a fork
in the road ahead. None of them had been in the far reaches of the
Northfarthing before. Long Cleeve was a three-day journey from
Hobbiton; they had come by way of Oatbarton then turned westward to
skirt the northernmost borders of Bindbale Wood. It was now late
afternoon and, from the directions obtained in Oatbarton, they had
every reason to believe they were nearing their destination.

"This North-Thain," said Sam after they'd chosen the path that turned
northward and ridden on for awhile, "didn't he say what he wanted you
for, Frodo?"

"No, Sam. You know as much as I do. It's 'a peculiar and most
delicate problem requiring a great deal of discretion.' That's all he
said in his letter, and the letter contains all the information I
have." Frodo had brought the North-Thain's cryptic message with him,
and carried it now in his inner waistcoat pocket, but he'd read it
over so many times since he'd received it last week that he could
recite most of it from memory. He had written in reply that he would
be glad to come to Long Cleeve and offer his services, then invited
his cousins to accompany him.

"What d'you suppose it can be?" wondered Merry. "A robbery? The
family jewels stolen and he thinks it's one of the family who took
them? Or maybe it's some dark, terrible secret he doesn't want to
expose to public scandal."

"There _was_ a scandal last year," Pippin remembered. "Mother and
Father were talking about it after they had a letter from Aunt Di.
Thain Brabantius got married again, to a lady much younger than he
is--half his age, Mother said."

"Well, there's no mystery in _that_," Merry laughed, "except how an
old hobbit near eleventy-one can hope to please a wife so much
younger."

"You didn't tell him about us coming along?" Sam asked Frodo.

"I said I might be bringing my associates to aid me in whatever
investigation he required. Since I've no idea what he requires, I
can't predict how much help I might need, and I didn't know when I
wrote if you would all be able to come with me." Frodo gave his
friend a smile. "You would, of course, dear Sam, but Merry has his
Buckland to look after these days, and Pippin has his family." Pippin
had only returned from Buckland to visit his family in Tuckborough a
few weeks ago; he had grown homesick since leaving them in the
spring.
 
"Uncle Merry's glad to take Buckland off my hands for awhile," said
Merry. "I think he prefers having me out of the way so he can manage
things properly."

Pippin grinned. "My family didn't mind me going away again. I only
had to tell Father and Mother that you'd asked me, and I was off.
Mother wasn't sure if she should be pleased or worried when she heard
where we were going. She's hoping that if I see Diamond again, I'll
reconsider marrying her. On the other hand-"

"There's the other Di," Frodo finished for him. It wasn't difficult
to guess; this wasn't the first time Pippin had spoken of Diantha
Took during their journey. 

"Exactly! Mother's terrified I'll come home and announce I've got
myself betrothed to _her_. That'd almost be worse than Merry!"

"Thank you!" said Merry.

Pippin ducked his head. "Well, you know what I mean. As far as
Mother's concerned, one's nearly as bad as the other. She couldn't
imagine a worse girl for me to like."

The northward road went around the curve of a hill, then led into a
deep, rocky cleft. This narrow passage went on for perhaps a quarter-
mile before it gradually widened into a grassy gap between steeply
sloped hills. On an outcropping of rock above the path, a figure was
sitting; as they drew closer, they could see it was a young hobbit
with bright red hair, wearing a well-worn jacket and trousers. This
youth stood up, waved, and shouted, "Halloo! I've been keeping watch
for you!" then jumped down into the road before them, fearless of the
height.

"Di! Hello!" Pippin climbed down from his pony and went to her.

"That's a girl?" Sam murmured doubtfully as the two hugged.

"That," said Frodo, "is Miss Diantha Took." He too dismounted to be
hugged in turn. 

"Welcome to Long Cleeve, Mr. Clever-Baggins!" Di said once she let go
of him. "Granduncle Brabantius has been asking after you every half-
hour since he received your letter, saying you'd come. He doesn't
like to be kept waiting."

"We came as quickly as we could, Miss," said Sam. He had heard the
story of how this strange young girl had come to Tuckborough,
pretending to be Pippin's prospective bride, but was uncertain what
to make of her. 

"You don't know my granduncle. He's used to having everybody jump and
obey him instantly," the girl responded. "I told him how Frodo's
worked for a great King of the Big Folk and wouldn't be pushed about
by a mere Thain, but he only said I was impertinent."

"So you are," replied Frodo.

"What if I am? It's still true, isn't it?" Di retorted. 

"Yes, it is, but how do _you_ know about it?" Frodo was aware that he
was famous throughout the Shire as a detective, but he doubted that
his recent adventures in Minas Tirith were well known.

"Pimmy wrote and told me about it last year, before Pip went off to
find you and Merry. How is she, by the way? I heard she's made an
awful scandal and run off with a troupe of acrobats. I wish I could
run off with some acrobats. Anyway, _I_ was the one who recommended
you, Frodo. You didn't know that, did you?"

Frodo shook his head. 

"I thought it must be Aunt Di," said Pippin.

"Granduncle did ask Auntie Di about Frodo, but _she_ said that
investigating was a disreputable occupation for a gentlehobbit so
closely connected to the Tooks, always involved with murders and
such.  _I_ told him that I knew you as well as she did and knew how
clever you were. I ought to, oughtn't I, after you figured out I
wasn't Diamond? Besides, there hasn't been any murder in Long Cleeve.
I almost wish there was one. It'd be exciting to be in middle of it,
but I suppose I'd feel bad for the poor person who was killed unless
it was somebody I really didn't like."

"Then you'd probably be suspected," said Merry, "and that wouldn't be
fun at all." He hadn't spoken before, since they'd encountered Di,
and had hung back a little during the hugs and banter. Like Sam, he'd
heard Pippin's and Frodo's story of how they'd first met this girl
and would probably have been more pleased to meet her himself, if
Pippin hadn't so obviously looked forward to seeing her again.

Di looked him over with curiosity, and Frodo took the opportunity to
introduce the two.

"So you're Pip's Merry?" said Di. "I've heard all about you. Pip's
told me everything." Then she tugged on Frodo's sleeve. "Come along.
Granduncle Brabantius is waiting. He'll want to see you the minute
you're in the front door of the Thain's Hall."

"How much further is it to Long Cleeve, Miss?" Sam asked her.

"You're in the Cleeve now," answered Di. "This is the bottom end of
it. It goes on for nearly twenty miles, but it's only another mile or
so to the Hall." 

!~|ii|~! 

With Di as a guide, they continued up the road, walking and leading
their ponies. The gap widened out into a valley and the slopes of the
hills grew higher but no less rocky or steep. They began to pass
small farms and cottages with gardens, and spotted the round doorways
of hobbit-holes on the hillsides above them. Di led them into an
eastward lane toward the brass-trimmed oak door of what appeared to
be a grand residence with a large number of windows. There was a
garden behind a low hedge on the lower slopes of the hill below the
door. "That's the Thain's Hall."

"Do you live here, Di?" asked Pippin.

"No, Poppa and I have our own house, over there-" Di pointed to
another, less magnificent-looking door farther along the hillside. "I
won't go in with you. They won't want me and, besides, it's almost
dinner-time and Poppa must wonder where I am. Good luck! I'll come
and ask you all about it tomorrow." She left them at the garden gate,
which was shaded by a cluster of young willow trees on either side.

Frodo left his friends with the ponies and went through the gate,
then up the stone steps to the Hall door up to knock. The door was
answered by a porter, who told him, "You are expected, Mr. Baggins,"
once he heard Frodo's name. Other servants were quickly summoned to
see to the ponies and baggage, and the porter escorted Frodo and his
companions into the Hall. Frodo thought they were being taken to the
Thain, but instead they soon found themselves in a plush parlor where
a group of hobbits were seated. 

At their entrance, one older gentleman rose to greet them. "Which of
you is Mr. Baggins?" he asked.

"I am," Frodo identified himself. "You aren't Thain Brabantius?" He
doubted it could be, for the Thain was an elderly hobbit of 110, and
this gentleman was at most five-and-seventy. Nor did any of the other
occupants of the room look old enough to be the Thain. There was
another gentleman in his seventies and three younger lads in their
thirties or early forties. The rest were all women. Diamanta was
sitting with another pair of ladies about her own age and one notably
younger, pretty girl. Another lady, perhaps fifty-five and a
remarkable beauty, sat apart from the rest.

"No," said the older gentleman, "I am the Thain's eldest son and
heir, Alhasrus Took. We wanted to see you first, Mr. Baggins, before
you spoke to Father." 

Although they had never met him before, Frodo, Pippin, and Merry
recognized the name: this was Diamanta's husband.

Alhasrus introduced the others, beginning with the remarkable beauty.
"May I present Lady Iris, my father's wife. My wife, Diamanta, you
know of course, and this is our son Ulfidius." He indicated the
eldest of the three young hobbits, then presented the other older
gentleman, "My brother, Alamargo Took." One of the older ladies was
"Aspid, his wife," and the two younger lads, "their sons, Hilbarus
and Helimarcus." Persifilla, the pretty young lady, was Ulfidius's
wife. She had observed the newcomers with great interest since they'd
come into the room; at her introduction, she met Frodo's eyes for a
long, languid moment then, meeting with no response beyond
politeness, welcomed him indifferently. Lastly, almost as an
afterthought, Alhasrus introduced the other lady who sat
inconspicuously with Diamanta and Aspid: "And this is Istra Goodwood,
Aspid's sister, who lives with us here at the Thain's Hall since her
husband passed on."

In turn, Frodo introduced his companions: "Peregrin Took, the South-
Thain's son and heir, Master Meriadoc Brandybuck of Buckland, and Mr.
Samwise Gamgee, who is Chief Sheriff at Bywater." Most of the group
were curious to see Pippin, since they'd heard so much about his
reputation for wildness when Diamanta had proposed a match between
him and her niece Diamond, but they also seemed intrigued to learn
that Frodo had brought a shirriff with him.

"Did Father invite all of you here?" asked Alamargo.

"No, only me," Frodo answered, "but my friends always assist me in my
investigations, and I thought it would be more expedient to bring
them along rather than wait and send for them later, when I had need
of them. It would take a week or more for them to arrive, and time
may be of the essence in this case."

"We don't want to be an imposition," said Pippin. "If it's too much
trouble, having so many unexpected guests, we can all go and find
lodgings at an inn or tavern somewhere. Surely there must be a few in
Long Cleeve."

"Several," said Helimarcus, smiling.

"But you mustn't be so ridiculous as to think of such a thing, dear
Peregrin," Diamanta added swiftly. "A Took lodge in a tavern! We
wouldn't dream of it! Of course, you and your friends will stay here
with us. There's plenty of room."

"Yes," said Iris, "if you have come at the bidding of my husband, the
Thain, then you must stay. As Lady of Long Cleeve and mistress of
this house--" she put her step-daughter-in-law in her place, "I
welcome you on his behalf."

Diamanta and Aspid glowered, but said nothing.

"What sort of case is it, Mr. Baggins?" asked Alhasrus.

"I can only tell you that it is most confidential." That was all he
knew of it himself, but Frodo could see that the Thain's family
didn't know why he had been summoned either, and they were anxious to
find out.

"But surely you can confide it to _us_?" Aspid prodded. "After all,
we _are_ his family."

"His nearest relations," said Iris, and received another look of
dislike from the other ladies. 

"If there's some trouble, it's only right we know what it is," said
Alamargo. 

"I'm afraid I can't say more, not until after I consult the
Thain,"Frodo answered them.

"Look here, Mr. Baggins," Alhasrus put the matter plainly. "We're
terribly concerned for my father. He's a very old hobbit, and he
hasn't been well lately. He was seriously ill only a few weeks ago
and though he's recovered, since he's been up and about again, he's
behaved so oddly that I'm afraid his wits have been affected. He's
taken to shutting himself up in his study all day."

"He doesn't even come out to join us for meals and barely speaks to
anyone except his butler," added Lady Iris. 

"It was only when your letter came that we learned he'd sent for
you," said Alhasrus.

"And he hasn't told you why?" asked Frodo.

The Thain's heir shook his head. "There's no reason we can fathom. It
may be for no reason at all. You and your friends may have come all
this way on a fool's errand. I'm worried that my Father has entered
his dotage. But if there _is_ some reason, as my brother suggests, we
must know. Surely, Mr. Baggins, you can see-"

What Frodo was meant to see, he never learned, for the door opened at
that moment and another young hobbit-lad popped his head into the
room. "Father Brabantius has heard that the investigator's arrived,"
he said. 

"It's that Tulipant," said Alamargo. "Father's eyes and ears!"

"He's heard you've got him here, and wants to see him right away.
Which one is it?" The young hobbit looked from one guest to another;
Frodo stepped forward to accompany the newcomer and left his friends
with the North-Tooks.

"Are you the Thain's son?" he asked his escort as they went down a
series of tunnels toward the back of the Hall. This boy was much
younger than the Thain's two sons he had already met, younger even
than their sons; he looked to be less than thirty and might not yet
be of age. Yet he had referred to the Thain as 'Father.'

"Step-son," the young hobbit clarified. "I'm Isigo Pumble, Lady
Iris's son from her first marriage. There's been talk of Father
Brabantius adopting me, but I don't think anything will come of it.
The others wouldn't stand for it." They had arrived at a door at the
end of a corridor, and Isigo rapped smartly on it. A servant opened
it and the boy told him, "I've brought the investigator for the
Thain," then raised his voice to call out into the room beyond. "Here
he is, Father!"

From within the room came an answering command: "Bring him in!"

The servant held open the door to admit Frodo; Isigo did not go in
with him. The Thain's study was dimly lit, with the curtains drawn
over the window, the fire low, and only a single candle on the table
beside the elderly hobbit who sat in a comfortable chair. The Thain
sat more upright as Frodo came closer; he was wizened and white-
haired and had the gnarled and shrunken look of the very old, but his
eyes were bright even in this low light and held a lively and
interested look that belied his family's fears for his sanity.

"Mr. Frodo Baggins," the servant announced formally.

"So I see!" said the Thain. "Welcome, Mr. Baggins. I've long looked
forward to meeting you. Do sit down, please, and make yourself
comfortable. I wish I could offer you some wine..." This struck Frodo
as an odd remark, since there was a nearly full decanter on the same
table as the candle, easily within reach. As he took a seat in a
chair near the Thain's, the old hobbit turned to dismiss his servant.
"Thank you, Tulipant. You may leave us now."

Tulipant bowed and exited.

"An excellent butler," said Thain Brabantius once the servant had
gone. "Most discreet, but some things are not for his ears. Well, Mr.
Baggins, I hope your journey was not too arduous. It's a long road
from here to Hobbiton--it's been a good sixty years since I rode that
way myself--but I hoped for news of your arrival here every day since
I received your most encouraging response to my invitation. I've
heard much about your remarkable talents. My great-niece, that young
mischief-maker and hoyden, has gathered every tale she can find of
your adventures to repeat them to me."

"Di did tell me she was the one to recommend me to you," said Frodo.

"And so she did!" The old hobbit shook his head. "I'm afraid we'll
never make a proper lady of the child, but I am quite fond of her.
She's an honest little creature."

Frodo couldn't help a small smile, recalling the circumstances under
which he had met Diantha. 

The Thain caught this smile, and understood. "Oh, she's as full of
tricks as a dozen imps, I don't deny it, but there's no harm in her.
She means what she says, and that's a quality I've come to value,
when there are so many about me who smile and lie." He grew more
somber. "If half what I've heard about you is true, then you're just
the one who can help me with my most perplexing and disturbing
problem."

"I'll be happy to do whatever I can to aid you, sir," answered Frodo,
"but you haven't told me what your problem is. I don't 
know what it is you want me to do."

"No," Thain Brabantius agreed. "I didn't like to put it down in
writing. It sounds so very odd to speak of. I didn't even like to
think it myself at first. Have you spoken with my family? Yes,
Tulipant told me that you were sent to them before you were brought
to me. They think I'm going mad--but I'm not. I'm only frightened and
don't know who in my household I can trust. You see," he explained at
last, "I'm being poisoned, Mr. Baggins, and I don't know by whom." 

!~|iii|~! 

"Poison..." Frodo spoke the word in a soft hiss. He had dealt with
poisonings before, and knew what a horrible, insidious type of murder
it was. The culprit would be difficult to find, since he or she could
plant the poison days or even weeks in advance and need not be
anywhere near the victim at the time of death. A poisoner could go
silently and strike wherever they liked, and there was little hope of
predicting their crimes nor preventing them. "How do you know?" he
asked.

"I didn't know it, not at first. When you get to be my age, even the
hardiest hobbit has to put up with certain infirmities. Old bones
grow weary and the heart doesn't beat as strongly as it did when you
were young. In June, I fell into a fit of some sort, and for two days
afterwards, I lay as if dead. I'm sure my family thought it was the
end of me, but my senses returned at last and I slowly recovered
while abed. It was thought that I must have suffered some sort of
stroke of the brain, which is not so remarkable in a hobbit of one-
hundred-and-ten, but it was only when I resumed my duties, and again
drank..." He glanced at the decanter. 

Frodo followed the old hobbit's gaze, and a chill ran through him.
"The wine?"

"It's a special vintage," Brabantius explained. "The Thain's Own,
they call it. It's reserved for my private use, to be shared with
favored guests and members of my family. I have my decanter here, and
only let it be brought to the table on special occasions, such as my
birthday and the birthday of my heir. Both were months ago, and my
children and their families seem to have suffered no ill effects from
the last time they drank it." 

"Have you been the only one to drink the wine since?"

Brabantius nodded. "It sat here in this room all the time I lay abed,
untouched. When I drank from it again, I had more such tremors and
mild fits, not so bad as that first, but enough that I began to
suspect my bouts of 'illness' weren't all that they seemed. Before I
made up my mind to summon you, I gave some of the wine mixed with
milk and bread to a dog from the stables, an old and sickly beast
like myself, to find out whether or not my worst suspicions were
true. He went into fits, just as I had, and was sick as a dog might
be, but the poor creature didn't recover. He died that same night."

"Who comes into this room?" asked Frodo.

"Under normal circumstances, when the door is not locked, anybody
might come and go when I am not in," said Brabantius. "The door was
locked during my days of illness, so that the wine couldn't have been
touched, or taken, until I was well enough to return and open the
door myself. Since I've begun to suspect the truth, however, I am in
here most of the day. I lock the door when I am out, and Tulipant has
instructions that no one is to be admitted without my knowledge or
permission. And yet, the poison might not have been added to the wine
here, in this very room. It might be done at the butler's pantry,
where Tulipant decants the wine."

"Who has access to the butler's pantry?"

"Tulipant keeps the keys to his pantry and the wine cellar, but I
suppose they might easily be taken by anyone in the household. Before
this, there was never a good reason to be particularly careful with
them. I would have said that my servants were all perfectly
trustworthy and I needn't worry that any one of them was drinking
themselves into tipsiness on my stock of wine. You must speak to
Tulipant, ask him."

"Yes, I intend to," said Frodo. "But you must tell him what all this
is about. He will wonder when I begin asking questions about the keys
and the wine, and might refuse to answer if he doesn't understand."

Brabantius nodded, agreeing to this. "I don't suppose this can be
kept secret much longer. Yet I dislike the thought of telling all the
household. The one who's done this is surely among them, and would be
put on his guard if he knows why you've come here."

"My arrival will have put him, or her, on guard in any case. The
others might not be able to guess why I'm here, but the one who's
been putting poison in your wine surely will."

The old Thain smiled. "True. Very well. They must be told, and you
may ask them all as many questions as you like. I will give whatever
aid you require, to do what you must."

"Thank you," said Frodo. "I have one question for you, Thain
Brabantius. Why?"

"Why?"

"Why would anyone wish to poison you? You must have given it some
thought since you began to suspect it was so."

"Oh, I can guess why someone would wish me out of the way," said
Brabantius. "When you met my family, Mr. Baggins, was my wife there
as well?"

"Yes, sir, she was," Frodo answered. 

"Then you see what's put them all into a flurry. Not one of them can
abide Iris. They've never forgiven me for marrying a second time at
my age--and to marry such a woman! Though I suppose it'd be just as
likely for someone to poison _her_ as well as me, if that were the
reason. Oh, this is a terrible thing! Before you came, I've sat here
day upon day, too frightened to know where to turn." 

"I've had experience of poisonings before, sir," said Frodo. "I
investigated a similar case just last year, and I was in fear of
being a victim of poison myself."

"Have you?" The old Thain began to regard his guest with a new
appreciation. "When did you run afoul of a poisoner before, Mr.
Baggins?"

"It wasn't here in the Shire," Frodo told him. "I was summoned by the
King in Gondor, to aid him when two Men of his court were murdered."

"And did you find the one responsible?"

"Yes, in the end, but it was terrible case. Two more people were
killed before the poisoner was discovered, and many other people were
in danger, myself included. I know how it is to be fearful of eating
or drinking. Nothing tastes as it should."

Brabantius nodded eagerly. "Yes, that's so. It's as if every drop may
be tainted."

"But you must eat. You need to keep your health and strength. My
advice to you, sir, is to go out among your family," Frodo told him.
"Do not eat alone. Unless this person wishes to harm the rest of your
family--and I don't believe he does, if he's only poisoned your
private stock of wine--then the food that everybody eats is the
safest. Eat only what the others at the table have eaten. If there is
any food known to be a particular favorite of yours, don't touch it."

"Yes..." He nodded again, even more appreciative of Frodo. "I shall
take your advice, Mr. Baggins. And I would be happy to have you join
my family at dinner tonight. You will have a better chance to look
them over. But before that-" The Thain yanked the bell-pull; a minute
later, Tulipant reappeared. "Ah, Tulipant, I have a special errand
for you. You've been most circumspect, and obeyed all my most
peculiar orders these past weeks without question or delay."

"It is always my pleasure to serve my Thain," Tulipant replied with a
bow.

"I'm pleased to hear it. Mr. Baggins here has also agreed to aid me,
and I wish you to give him every assistance. He acts with my
authority. Show him your pantry and the wine cellar, and whatever
other part of the kitchen offices or storerooms he would like to see.
Answer his questions as if I had asked th

Tulipant looked somewhat perplexed by these orders, but he bowed
again. "Will that be all, your Thainship?"

"For the moment, thank you, Tulipant," answered the Thain. "Oh, and I
pray you take this decanter of wine from my sight. I've no desire to
see it again."

!~|iv|~! 

"How long have you been in Thain Brabantius's service?" Frodo asked
Tulipant as the butler led him down a steep back-tunnel to the Hall
kitchens.

"Forty years, it must be," Tulipant answered, carefully bearing the
tray with the decanter of wine before him. "I came into the Thain's
Hall as a young lad, when old Mr. Coppernob was butler here. I was
his pantry-boy and polished the silver. He used to send me to carry
up the Thain's tray with his wine of an evening. `Twas how his
Thainship came to notice me, and when Mr. Coppernob retired, I took
his place. I've been his Thainship's butler for over twenty years."

"And your duties still include bringing the Thain's wine into his
study every day?"

"That's right, Mr. Baggins. I have a pantry-boy of my own, Jeddy
Tubrose, one of the gardener's sons, but he's a flighty lad and I
wouldn't trust him yet to carry something so precious as his
Thainship's best decanter. I'm sure he'd drop it!"

"Then this boy has nothing to do with the household wines?"

"No, Mr. Baggins."

"Does anyone but yourself handle the wines?"

Tulipant was used to obeying without question, but he gave Frodo an
odd look as he answered, "No, sir. 'Tis my responsibility, and mine
alone." 

They had now entered the kitchens, where an elderly hobbit-woman was
busy preparing dinner and ordering a bevy of maids to attend to their
tasks. A young lad, presumably the pantry-boy Jeddy, was also there,
laying out the appropriate silverware for the dining-room table on a
cloth-covered tray. The lad looked up from his work expectantly as
Tulipant came in, and the cook turned from her stove.

"Has that investigator come yet? Did you see 'm, Mr. Tuli-" she
began; when she saw that the butler was accompanied by a stranger,
she shut her mouth abruptly and curtseyed. "Beg yer pardon."

"This is Mr. Baggins, the investigator," Mr. Tulipant presented him.
"Mr. Baggins, Mrs. Scrubbs." The pantry-boy was gaping, and the maids
had also stopped their work to stare. Evidently, the Thain's servants
were as curious about his presence here as the Thain's family.

"Did you want to see us, Mr. Baggins?" asked Mrs. Scrubbs as she
wiped her hands on her apron. "Is there ought we can do for you?" 

"Perhaps later, thank you. I can see you're all very busy, and I
don't wish to interrupt your household routine," Frodo tried to put
the cook and her staff at ease. "Mr. Tulipant is assisting me, at
Thain Brabantius's request." He turned to the butler. "Will you show
me the wine cellars, please?"

Tulipant nodded and took Frodo into his pantry; there, the butler set
down the tray and decanter he had been carrying, and took out the
bundle of keys that hung on a chain from his waistcoat. He unlocked a
door at one end of the room, and they went down into a long, cool,
dark tunnel that seemed to stretch into the heart of the hill. A
number of cylindrical chambers lay on either side of the tunnel, each
lined on all sides with bricks. Frodo looked into each of these: Some
contained bins where dusty and cobweb-covered bottles of wines were
neatly stacked, and others contained large oaken casks. 

"Where is the Thain's Own wine?" he asked.

"Here, at the end, Mr. Baggins." Tulipant led him down to the last
vault. Here were more dusty bottles on rows of shelves, larger than
the wine bottles elsewhere, blown from green-tinted glass into a
distinctive bell-shape. Each bore a red wax seal over the cork,
stamped with the Thain's crest. "`Tis a 1364 vintage," said the
butler. "A famous year for grapes. His Thainship had it aged in oak
for twenty years, and the bottles were made special when the time was
right. He put his own seal, as you see it, on each bottle himself.
The stock is getting a bit low, but his Thainship's most careful with
it and there'll be enough left to see him out and drink the health of
Master Alhasrus for many a year to come."

Frodo had indeed noticed the seals, and examined them for signs of
tampering. The wax was very old and some of the seals were crumbling
around their edges. Someone might easily remove the wax cap from one
or more bottles, pull out the cork beneath, and replace both. "Does
anyone come into these cellars, Mr. Tulipant?"

"Besides myself? Jeddy helps me bring down the empties, but I
wouldn't let 'm touch the Thain's Own. And Mr. Bunberry, our porter,
comes down with me a time, to sample a drop or two of the other
wines." Tulipant began to regard Frodo with increasing concern. "What
is it, Mr. Baggins? Does- Does his Thainship think someone's been
getting into his special wine?"

"I suppose you could say that," Frodo answered.

"He doesn't think _I've_ been taking a drop of it for myself?"
Tulipant sounded horrified at the suggestion. "Now, sampling the
wine's a butler's perquisite, but the Thain's Own is his own. Except
at his Thainship's invitation, I'd only taste it to see as a new
bottle opened is up to the standard."

"No, Mr. Tulipant, it isn't that," Frodo hastened to reassure him.
Should he tell the butler the true reason behind these questions?
Thain Brabantius hadn't authorized him to tell anyone yet, but his
investigation couldn't go very far without the Thain's household
learning the truth sooner or later, and Tulipant was a valuable
source of information. "I'm afraid it's worse. The Thain believes his
wine has been poisoned."

The butler went pale. "Poisoned?" He looked so shocked that Frodo
thought he was going to faint and stepped forward quickly to catch
Tulipant by the arm as the butler slumped against brick wall beside
the vault door. "Oh, it isn't so! To think it should come to this! I
didn't know nothing about it, Mr. Baggins." Then with an effort, he
pulled himself together and asked, "What can I do to help his
Thainship?"

"You've been of great help already, Mr. Tulipant," Frodo assured him.
"Please, go on answering my questions, as you've been doing."

The butler nodded. "What else do you wish to know?"

"Tell me: is your pantry normally kept locked?"

"Not as a rule, Mr. Baggins," Tulipant answered, "but the wine
cellars are, as you see." As they left the cellars, he locked the
door again; the butler was still somewhat shaken, and his hand
trembled slightly as he turned the key and returned the ring to its
place in his pocket. Once they were in the pantry, Tulipant took a
seat at the table. "And the silver closet, over there, where the best
plates and table-ware are kept is locked too. Mrs. Scrubbs has keys
to the storerooms, but I have my set as well, in case hers go
missing."

"Does Mrs. Scrubbs have a set of your keys?" asked Frodo.

"She has a key to the silver closet, but not the cellars."

"Do you always keep your keys with you, on your waistcoat chain?"

"During the day, yes, and I hang `em on a hook in the wall by my bed
at night. They never go out of my reach." Then Tulipant appeared to
struggle with his conscience and after a moment, he admitted,
"Sometimes, Mr. Baggins, they do get left on the mantel-piece or on
my table here in the pantry. I'm a bit forgetful when there's a lot
to be done, but the keys are always right where I left 'em when I go
looking. If somebody took `em, then they put them right back." 

!~|v|~!

After he had finished questioning Tulipant, Frodo returned to the
parlor, where his friends were still sitting with the North-Took
family. Tea and a large platter of cakes had been brought in for the
refreshment of the three visitors, and their hosts were still trying
to pump them for information--information that Sam, Pippin, and Merry
simply did not have.

Everyone looked up with curiosity when Frodo came back into the room.
"Where have you been all this time?" Pippin asked between mouthfuls
of cake. "We were beginning to wonder."

"I've had a look at the wine cellar." Frodo's answer only perplexed
the group; his friends might be used to this sort of cryptic remark,
but the North-Tooks didn't know what to make of it.

"Wine cellar?" repeated Alhasrus. "Why should Father want you to see
_that_?"

Frodo replied cautiously, unsure of how much he could reveal before
the Thain himself had told his family. To gain information from them,
he would have to take a different tack than he had Tulipant and be
more subtle. "Thain Brabantius believes the wine has been tainted."
He was careful not to say the word 'poisoned.'

"Nonsense," said Alamargo. "There's nothing wrong with the wine.
We've all drunk it."

"We had some with our dinner only last night," his wife added.

"There is a special vintage," said Frodo, "reserved for the Thain's
private use."

"Yes, that's right," said Alhasrus. "The Thain's Own."

"When did you last drink that?"

"A decanter was brought to the table at my birthday." Alhasrus looked
to the others for confirmation. 

"Before your father was taken ill?"

"Yes," said Alhasrus, and seemed more perplexed by these questions.
"In April, but Father's drunk of it since."

"Your father is convinced that his recent illness has been caused by
the wine," Frodo informed him.

Isigo gave a sharp whistle. "So that's what all this mystery has been
about!"

"But that's absurd!" Lady Iris cried. 

"Nevertheless, my lady, it is what Thain Brabantius is afraid of.
He's asked me to look into the matter." Frodo watched them all for
their reactions to this announcement: the North-Tooks were surprised
and incredulous, but if any one among them had a guilty conscience,
they did not betray it in their expressions.
 
"But we're his _family_," protested Hilbarus. "Surely you don't
suggest he suspects one of us?"

"It can't have anything to do with _us_," Persifilla said
confidently.

"Grandfather must be in his dotage, if he can believe such a thing,"
said Ulfidius.

Frodo didn't know exactly who the Thain suspected, but he noticed
that Diamanta and Aspid met each other's eyes, then both glanced
surreptitiously at Iris from under lowered lashes.

"Do _you_ believe it, Mr. Baggins?" asked Alhasrus. "An old hobbit
can have strange fancies, especially if he's been ill. You aren't
just encouraging these odd ideas of his?"

"No," Frodo replied, "I believe him."

!~|vi|~!

At dinner-time, the Thain emerged from his study to join his family
and their guests at the table. This was a surprise to the North-
Tooks, who hadn't seen Brabantius at a meal in weeks. In light of
what Frodo had told them, they were all eager to hear what the Thain
had to say. Could such a thing be true?

"I'm afraid it is," Thain Brabantius confirmed. He waited until the
others had begun their soup before he began to eat his. "It's time
for you all to learn the truth. I only waited to consult the advice
of a professional before I made it known. You see, there has been a
reason behind my odd behavior of late. There is no doubt in my mind
that I have been poisoned."

Once the ugly word had been spoken aloud, shocked cries and
exclamations of disbelief went up around the dinner table. The ladies
fluttered, and more than one hobbit put down their soup spoons,
appetites suddenly gone. 

"But how can that be, Father?" demanded Alamargo. "Who would do such
a thing?"

"That is what I hope Mr. Baggins will find out." Brabantius looked at
his family around the table. "If you truly mean well by me, my dears,
you will indulge an old hobbit and give Mr. Baggins and his
companions every assistance in finding the truth." The Thain was no
longer frightened; he meant what he said, and his family knew it. Any
further protests would look too suspicious. Like it or not, they must
cooperate.

After dinner, the four guests were shown to their rooms. Lady Iris
might act as their official hostess, but it seemed more likely that
Diamanta had made the bedroom arrangements: While Sam's room, with no
window, lay directly across from Frodo's, and Merry's was next door,
Pippin's was in another part of the house entirely.

"Goodness knows where they've hidden him," Merry reported when he
joined Frodo in his room after trying unsuccessfully to locate
Pippin. "I've been all up and down this tunnel, knocking on every
door, and the only other person up this way is Isigo, which shows how
they feel about him as well as us."

"Perhaps they've put Pippin in one of the family rooms," Frodo mused.
While his cousin sat perched on his bed, he unpacked and put away his
clothes away in the wardrobe. "He _is_ a Took."

"And we're merely distant relations, not to mention disreputable
investigators. They know we're only going to bring trouble."

"The trouble was already here, dear Merry. We're only going to dig it
up."

"They won't like us any better for that," Merry responded.

"I know, but it _is_ my profession... and yours too, if you'll join
me."

Merry grinned. "I wouldn't have come all this way if I didn't intend
to."

There was a knock on door, and Sam peeked in. He wasn't happy to see
Merry there ahead of him, but he only said, "I came to see if you
wanted any help putting things away proper, Frodo. And I thought as
you might want to tell us what you want us to do about his Thainship
and this poisoning."

"I've finished my unpacking, Sam, thank you, but do come in." Frodo
shut the drawers at the bottom of the wardrobe. Still crouched on the
floor, he gestured to invite his friend to have a seat on the bed
beside Merry. "I am going to need your help. The two of you and Pip
were sitting with the family all the time I was talking to the Thain.
You've seen more of them. What can you tell me about them?"

"Nothing that you haven't already seen for yourself," answered Merry.

Frodo nodded. "The North-Tooks disapprove of the Thain's new wife." 

"Can't abide her ladyship, is more like," Sam added, "nor her son
either. If you was to ask me, I'd say none of `em likes her, but it's
Missus Diamanta who's got her nose most pushed out of joint by the
other lady."

"Yes, that's so. She feels Lady Iris has usurped her rightful place
as mistress of the household," said Frodo, and sank back thoughtfully
to sit on his heels. "I wish we knew more about the others. That'll
be a job for all of us. I can't make a list of suspects until I know
everyone better."

"Who had the best opportunity? Did you find anything in the wine
cellar, Frodo?" Merry asked him. 

Frodo was just beginning to tell them what Tulipant had told him
about the keys, when there was another tap on the door. They all
expected that it was the missing Pippin, come to join their
conference, but when Frodo asked, "Who is it?" a woman's voice
replied. 

"It's Diamanta, dear. May I come in?"

"Yes, of course, Auntie," Frodo replied, rising to answer the door
and throwing a quizzical glance at his friends, who were just as
surprised.

Diamanta had not come alone; with her was her sister-in-law Aspid.
The ladies seemed nonplussed to find Merry and Sam also there. "I beg
your pardon," said Diamanta. "We wanted to speak to you, Frodo,
before you went to bed. I hope we haven't interrupted."

"It's quite all right, Aunt," Frodo answered. "My friends and I are
only discussing the- ah- case." Normally, he would insist that his
companions stay to hear what Diamanta and Aspid had to say--he would
tell them what the ladies had said in any case--but these two
visitors were more likely to speak their minds to him without an
audience present. His friends took the hint, and rose to leave.

"You boys are comfortable here, I trust," Diamanta said as Merry and
Sam exited.

"Very comfortable, Aunt Di," said Merry. "We feel almost at home. You
haven't seen Pippin, by the way, have you? I've looked all over for
him."

"Pippin?" Aspid echoed, puzzled. "Do you mean your friend, Peregrin?
He's in the room next to my sons." Diamanta said nothing, but looked
as if she wished that her sister-in-law hadn't answered the question.

"Thank you!" Merry smiled and bowed to her, and went off to find
Pippin.

"What can I do for you?" Frodo asked once his friends had gone. The
ladies had come into his room and shut the door, though they did not
sit down.

"Your 'case' is just what we've come to talk about," Diamanta
answered. "We believe we can help you, and help Father Brabantius as
well. Aspid and I have discussed this terrible matter between
ourselves. It's a horrible thing to contemplate, but we both feel
that Father Brabantius may be right in his worst suspicions."

"His illness did come on so suddenly," Aspid added. "Although, of
course, we had _no_ idea at that time that it was anything but the
usual sort of illness an elderly hobbit might suffer from."

"No idea whatsoever!" agreed Diamanta. "But, if he is right and his
illness was the result of poison, then only one person could have
done it."

"Yes?" Frodo prompted, although he could guess what she was about to
say.

"Lady Iris, of course," Diamanta answered with a mild note of scorn,
as if she didn't think much of Frodo's investigative skill if he
hadn't already come to the same conclusion. "Surely you see that.
There was never anything wrong in this house before _she_ came into
it."

"It's obvious she married him for his money and the prestige of being
a Thain's lady," said Aspid. "But, if _that_ wasn't enough, she wants
to put her poor old husband out of the way as quickly as possible.
She can't even wait for him to die a natural and peaceful death in
his own good time, as he has every right to do."

"If he'd wanted peace, he would never have married again," said
Diamanta, "and not so impetuously to a totally inappropriate woman. I
admit I have never thought well of her, but _this_ surpasses my worst
imaginings."

"And I feel sure that son of hers has a part in it," added Aspid. "So
you see, you _must_ speak to Father Brabantius about them, to warn
him."

"If you're as clever a hobbit as your reputation would have it," said
Diamanta, "you can surely make him see the truth."

"I can't make unfounded accusations against anyone," Frodo told them
patiently. "Before I speak to Thain Brabantius, I must have proof.
And, you know, it might not be Lady Iris at all."

"Nonsense!" responded Diamanta. "Don't be absurd! Who else could wish
to do such a thing? What reason could they have? Mark my words, Frodo
Baggins, it is she and no one else."

!~|vii|~!

After breakfast the next morning, the four hobbits met in a little
grove of trees on the slope of the hill outside Frodo's and Merry's
windows. They had seen each other over breakfast, but couldn't talk
with so many North-Tooks around as they naturally would among
themselves. Here, they could smoke their pipes and be frank.

"I'd hoped to have a word with you last night, after Aunt Di and
Aspid left, Merry," Frodo teased his cousin, "but I didn't see you
again after you went to search for Pippin. I assume you found him?"

Merry laughed. "Oh, yes. I had to walk all the way down our tunnel
and go around to the far side of the dining room and great hall to
_another_ tunnel where the family bedrooms are, but I found him. His
room's not only next to Aspid's sons', but her daughter's room is
just on the other side."

"You know who the daughter is, don't you?" asked Pippin. "Miss
Diamond Took!"

"I haven't seen Diamond since we arrived," Frodo observed. "Where has
she been?"

"Staying with her aunt, Lady Aspid told me," said Pippin. "She's
expected home today."

"My guess is that they wanted her out of the way while you were
investigating whatever the Thain sent you for," said Merry. "But now
that you've brought Pip with you, they're hastening to bring the girl
home as soon as possible." He chuckled. "What d'you imagine they're
hoping will happen with Pippin sleeping next door to their innocent
little chit? Aunt Di and Diamond's parents would be shocked to the
bones if Pippin tried sneaking into _her_ bedroom in the middle of
the night--even more shocked than if he came to mine."

"And did _you_ go sneaking anywheres last night, Master Merry?" Sam
asked him.

"Not with all the North-Tooks' bedrooms so near, I didn't dare! No,
it's better if Pip comes to me. It's more quiet and private up this
way. It's a good, long hike--half a mile or more, I feel sure--but do
they really think _that_ will stop us if we want to be together? Of
course, it'd be much easier if I had only to knock on the door next
to mine. Or just step across the hall. Don't you agree, Sam?"

Sam blushed, but Frodo smiled. Sam had in fact returned to his room
last night after Diamanta and Aspid had gone. Frodo had told his
friend what the ladies had said before they'd cuddled up to sleep. He
repeated the conversation to his cousins now. 

"Auntie Di doesn't seem to dislike Isigo as much as Aspid does," said
Pippin. "At least, she doesn't call _him_ a murderer too. Do you
believe what they said, Frodo?"

"I believe that they sincerely believe it. Whether it's true or not
is another matter. Their dislike of Lady Iris is so great that
they'll believe anything disgraceful about her. But just because they
hate her, it doesn't mean they're wrong. They're as jealous as cats,
but perhaps they understand her character better than her husband
does. Thain Brabantius seems to think it's someone else, that his
marriage to the lady has stirred up some deep resentment against not
only his new wife, but himself. It might be anyone in the house."
Frodo drew his knees to his chest and mused, "If the keys were taken
when Tulipant left them lying around..."

All three of his friends were used to these pensive states, but at
these last words, they looked puzzled. "What keys, Frodo?" asked
Merry.
 
"To the wine cellar. I was going to tell you about it last night,
when we were interrupted." Frodo did so now. "It seems least likely
that the wine was poisoned while it was in the pantry. Tulipant
doesn't look as if he'd let wine sit around unattended once it had
been decanted. It's more probable that the poison was put in while it
was still in a bottle in the wine cellar, or after it had been
brought to the Thain's study while Brabantius was elsewhere. That
might be easily done, although there was always a risk that the Thain
might return, or Tulipant or someone else would walk in. The wine
cellar would allow the poisoner to work without being seen. To get
into the wine cellar, he'd have to get hold of the keys when Tulipant
left them lying around in a moment of forgetfulness. The door to the
wine cellar is kept locked, and Tulipant has the only key, which he
wears with the other household keys on a waistcoat chain. He doesn't
normally allow people to enter the wine cellar, not unless he's with
them. He takes his duties very seriously."

"We haven't seen this Tulipant yet," said Sam. Two maids had served
in the dining room last night, and the butler had been absent. No
wine had been served at the table. "What's he like?"

Frodo shut his eyes, the better to picture the Thain's butler. "He's
an ordinary-looking hobbit of middle years, with thick, dark curls on
his head and toes, and a fine, round belly," he described. "He wears
a black coat and a white waistcoat with brass buttons. He puts on a
high style of speaking suitable to a senior servant in a Thain's
house, but when his feelings are up, he slips and you can hear the
voice of the country lad he once was. He's worked for Brabantius
since he was a boy, and he's devoted to him. Even when he's been too
frightened to know who to trust, the Thain has relied on Tulipant."

"How d'you know it isn't him, then?" Pippin asked, grinning.

"Of course, it might be," Frodo conceded. "A trusted servant in
Tulipant's position could do whatever he liked to the Thain's wine,
whenever he liked. He could be lying about the keys, to cast my
suspicions away from him. But he seemed genuinely upset when I told
him about the poison." He looked to Sam. "That's where you can help
me most, Sam."

"Me? How?"

"The poison. I thought you might know what it was, and how it was
come by." Frodo explained, "When I was in Minas Tirith last year, the
Master Herbalist at the Houses of Healing showed me all sorts of
plants that had medicinal virtues, but could also kill. You know as
much about plants as _he_ does." 

"All kinds of common plants is poisonous," Sam answered. "Some you
wouldn't guess to look at `em, as they look harmless as the summer
grass. Was there a bitter taste to the wine, did his Thainship say?"

"He didn't, but I can ask. Can you tell me what plants might cause
someone to fall into fits and lay near death for a day or more? It
did the same to a dog, but the dog died."

Sam considered these symptoms. "Now, it's hard to say, knowing so
little, but I'm thinking it could be laburnum. There's plenty of it
about." To prove his point, he nodded to indicate a cluster of small
trees in the garden below the Thain's Hall. "It's pretty enough in
spring, with all its golden flowers, but it's got to be fenced off
proper."

"That's right," Frodo knew little about plants, but he did know this
much. "Laburnum seeds are poisonous."

"Every bit of it is, begging your pardon," Sam corrected with gentle
deference, "but it's the seeds that the little uns'll pick up, and
cows and sheeps are most likely to eat if the trees grow near where
they graze. I've seen a sheep or two die just the way the Thain's dog
did--they go into fits, if they eat enough of it."

Frodo regarded the trees below thoughtfully. Anyone in the Thain's
household could gather laburnum pods, or the leaves or flowers,
without leaving the garden, then brew and distill them to extract the
poison. It was a simple enough process; he had learned this from an
expert. All that was needed was a pot of water and a strainer. 

"The thing I don't understand is why go to so much trouble?" asked
Pippin. "If somebody wants Thain Brabantius to die, they'd only have
to wait a little while. He's very old--he'll be eleventy-one next
year and couldn't go on much longer even if he was in the best of
health. They wouldn't have to do anything. Why take the risk of
finishing him off?"

"Lady Aspid said that Lady Iris wouldn't want to wait," Sam
remembered what Frodo had told them.

"But she didn't say why, except to suggest that Iris was greedy
enough to want to get her hands on the Thain's money as soon as
possible," said Merry. "How much do you suppose she'd get? And if it
wasn't her, who else will get something from the Thain's will? Maybe
_they_ couldn't wait." 

"That could be anyone in the Thain's family," Frodo responded. "His
sons, grandsons-" He stopped as a bedroom window farther up the slope
swung open and a young hobbit's head popped out. 

Isigo smiled at the sight of the four sitting on the hillside. "There
you are! I was been looking all over for you, Mr. Baggins, and then I
heard your voices. Mother wants to talk to you."

!~|viii|~!

Frodo left his friends, climbed in through his own window, and met
Isigo in the hallway. The young hobbit led him down through the
tunnels to the other side of the Thain's Hall. They did not go to the
parlor where Frodo had met the Thain's household on his arrival, but
up into the tunnel Merry had described, when the family bedrooms
were, until they came to the Thain's and his Lady's suite of rooms at
the far end.

"Mother's waiting in her boudoir," Isigo explained. "She wanted to
see you alone, without those old cats poking their noses in. They
never dare venture here." He tapped on one door before he opened it
slightly. "I've found him, Mama," he announced and, as he had the
evening before when he'd escorted Frodo to the Thain's study, left
him to go in on his own. 

Frodo entered a charming ladylike room with lace curtains in the
window and pink cushions on the chairs. There seemed to be flowers in
vases everywhere, and more crowding the little terrace just outside.
Lady Iris was seated on the sofa before the windows with a little
piece of embroidery-work in her hands, but she set it down and rose
to greet him graciously. "I'm so pleased you could come, Mr. Baggins.
I know you must be terribly busy on my husband's behalf, and I'm
grateful you can spare the time for this chat. Do sit down, please."

Frodo took the indicated seat on a chair facing the sofa. "What can I
do for you, my lady?" 

"We must discuss what we are going to do."

"About your husband's case?"

"Yes, exactly." Iris returned to her own seat and leaned forward
toward him confidentially. "You see, I'm very worried about him. I
have been, since he'd begun to behave so oddly, and when I learned
last night why he had called upon you, it came as an awful shock. I
can't believe it's true. I'm certain there must be some mistake.
Brabantius hasn't been well lately, as you know, and he's apt to
imagine all sorts of ugly things. Suspect the people he would
normally trust the most. To think of him sitting alone in his study,
frightening himself with such horrors, and never saying a word! Oh,
it upsets me. I wish he'd confided his fears to me. I could have
talked him into seeing sense."

Frodo wondered why she had taken this line and was trying to deny the
truth, but then he realized that she hadn't yet been told the entire
story. She didn't know about the dead dog, which he considered
positive proof of the Thain's claim. Unless Lady Iris was in fact the
person responsible for putting the poison in her husband's wine, she
only had Brabantius's word that it was so. Like many another hobbit,
perhaps it was only natural for her to deny that something unpleasant
was happening around her. Things like this were not supposed to
happen at all in the Shire!

"Tell me, Mr. Baggins," Lady Iris went on in her same confiding tone,
"what does my husband's family have to say about this? 
They've told you it's _my_ doing, haven't they?"

"I haven't spoken to them about this yet, Lady Iris," Frodo answered,
not quite honestly. Did she know about Diamanta's and Aspid's visit
to him last night? If she didn't, he didn't think he should tell her.

The lady smiled wryly. "Oh, but I know what they'll say when you do.
I can't help being aware that his sons and their wives disapprove of
his remarriage to me. They haven't troubled to conceal their
opinions. But I hadn't realized until last night that they harbored
such hatred for me."

Frodo heard nothing in Lady Iris's voice but concern for her husband
and distaste for his family's behavior toward her, but he couldn't
help remembering how King Aragorn's councilors had subtly accused
each other of being the murderer he was looking for under the guise
of aiding him. As Diamanta and Aspid had named Iris as the poisoner,
so he expected Iris to hint that _they_ were responsible. 

He waited for it, and it came:

"But what else can I expect? The Tooks have always been an odd
family. They're flighty, quick-tempered. They feel things more deeply
than ordinary hobbits. Do you know, Mr. Baggins, it wouldn't surprise
me if one of them did put _something_ into Brabantius's wine--not
intending to harm him, mind you, but so that they could claim _I_ had
done it. There have been other... upheavals before this, before I
came into this house."

Frodo tried not to smile. "What do you mean by 'upheavals,' my lady?"

Iris shook her head. "Oh, Mr. Baggins, I mustn't. I have my ideas,
but in spite of the way disgraceful way they've treated me, I
couldn't make false insinuations against any one of them. Brabantius
wouldn't like me to drag that old gossip up." Then she reconsidered,
and glanced at him with a glint in her eye that was almost
coquettish. "Very well. I'll give you a hint or two. My marriage
hasn't been the only one to cause quarrels in this family lately. Ask
Hilbarus. He'll tell you. You might also have a word with poor, dowdy
Istra. And I can tell you that my husband's sons aren't so devoted to
him as much as they are to the inheritance they hope to receive one
day. Now, I don't dare say that any one of them means deliberate harm
to Brabantius. I refuse to believe anyone would. But when you look
into this business, Mr. Baggins, I'm sure you'll find it's something
of the sort. A petty, vindictive act that I feel certain the culprit
regrets already, now that he or she sees the trouble it's caused."
She leaned closer to him again. "And when you do find out who it is,
I hope you'll come to me so we can decide the best way to tell
Brabantius. My poor husband has distressed himself so much over this,
and I don't want him distressed any further. The truth must be broken
to him gently." 

!~|ix|~!

After Frodo had gone, Sam went down the hill to the Thain's garden.
Isigo returned to Merry and Pippin. 

"It must be wonderful working with Mr. Baggins," he said after he had
settled down comfortably on the grass beside the pair and Pippin had
offered him some pipeweed. "I'll wager you could tell some remarkable
stories about the mysteries you've investigated."

"Oh, we can tell you plenty of stories," Pippin answered, grinning. 

"But you've never had one like this, have you? A murder, only the
victim isn't dead. That's lucky for Father Brabantius, and for Mr.
Baggins too, but perhaps not for the rest of us. Did you see the
family at dinner last night? Nobody daring to eat, and everyone
glancing at everybody else out of the corners of their eyes. We're
all wondering who could do such a thing. Mama says it must be a
mistake, or some sort of accident. She won't believe it. What does
Mr. Baggins think?" he asked them. "Has he turned up anything?"

"There isn't much to tell yet. We've only just started to look
about," Merry answered. "Frodo never likes to tell us what he's
thinking, until he's sure."

Pippin laughed. "Sometimes, we haven't the least idea what's on his
mind. He'll say the oddest things, and you can't understand a word of
it until he explains. Then it all makes sense."

"Besides," added Merry, "it's really best not to say too much to the
people involved, before we know who to suspect."

The young hobbit sat up, eyes wide. "I say, _I'm_ not suspected, am
I? Surely Mr. Baggins doesn't think so. There's no reason why I'd
want to poison Father Brabantius. I like him too much. He's always
been thoroughly decent to me, even when I was a little lad, long
before he married Mama." 

"Is he leaving you any money?" Pippin asked bluntly.

Isigo was taken aback by the question, but he answered, "A little
bit, I suppose. Not as much as his grandchildren will get when he
passes on, but why shouldn't he want to provide something for me if
he likes? I'm in no hurry to have it, if it means he has to go. As
far as I'm concerned, Father Brabantius can live to be a hundred and
seventy." 

"Then you don't have a thing to worry about," Merry assured him.

While they were talking, Diantha Took and a hobbit gentleman who must
be her father had come out of the smial next door to sit in the
garden adjacent to the Thain's. When she saw them, Di waved and
beckoned eagerly.

"Let's go down," said Isigo. "Di's been panting to hear what's up
since Father Brabantius wrote to Mr. Baggins. Uncle Alamaric's just
as curious, although he won't admit it. He doesn't dare to look
nosy--he'll leave that up to his daughter." As the trio rose and went
down the hill, the young hobbit added, "Will you tell _them_
anything, I wonder?"

At the bottom of the hill, they went through a side-gate in the hedge
that separated the Hall garden from the smaller garden of its
neighbor. Isigo introduced his companions to Alamaric as "friends of
the detective the Thain's sent for."

"I'm looking forward to meeting your famous friend," said Alamaric
pleasantly after he had shook Pippin's and Merry's hands in turn. "Is
_that_ Mr. Baggins there?" He nodded to indicate Sam, who had climbed
over the low decorative fence around the laburnum trees to examine
the ground beneath them.

"No, Poppa," Di chided affectionately and wound her arms around her
father's shoulders from behind his chair. "That's Mr. Baggins's other
friend, Chief Shirriff Gamgee. We were introduced yesterday. Frodo
Baggins is thin and pale, with big eyes and dark hair. You'd never
guess he was a detective to look at him, but he's awfully clever."

"A shirriff..." Alamaric mused and continued to regard Sam. "Are all
of you here to aid Mr. Baggins?"

"Yes, sir," answered Merry. "We always do, whenever we can."

"Well, I hope you can get to the bottom of this business, whatever it
is. Of course, I've no idea what the problem is--Uncle Brabantius has
kept so much to himself lately--but I can guess it's to do with his
recent remarriage," Alamaric said and examined his pipe with studied
disinterest, as if he weren't probing for information. "I beg your
pardon, Isigo-lad. You know how fond I am of your dear mother, but
anyone can see that the Thain's household has been in a topsy-turvy
state since she married him. Mind, I don't blame _her_, nor him, for
that matter."

"No, but you're quite right," Isigo agreed. "There's been one quarrel
after another since Mother and I came to stay. But it doesn't have to
do with us-"

"_What_ then?" Di exploded impatiently. "What's put Granduncle into
such a frightful tizzy? He wouldn't tell _me_ either, and I was the
one who said he should send for Frodo in the first place! Did he tell
Frodo what this is all about? Do you lads know?" She looked eagerly
from Pippin to Merry. "What does he want him to do?"

"It has to do with the Thain's recent illness," Merry spoke with
caution, uncertain how much Frodo would want them to reveal, when
Pippin blurted out:

"He says he's been poisoned."

"Poisoned!" squeaked Diantha. "How?"

"In his special wine," said Isigo. "At least, that's what Father
Brabantius told us over dinner last night. Mr. Baggins has been
peeking into the wine cellars and asking all kinds of questions about
when was the last time anybody else had a sip of it."

"We each had a glass or two of it at Alhasrus's birthday, even the
children." Alamaric took his daughter's hand. "Is that what your
friend the shirriff is doing?" he asked. "Looking for poison?"

Merry nodded. "Sam says laburnum's the most likely thing."

The elder hobbit looked grim. "It's a horrible business, if it's
true."

"Are there other laburnum trees nearby, Mr. Took?" Merry asked,
thinking that Sam might want to have a look at those too.

"Goodness! There are trees just like that all up and down the
Cleeve!" exclaimed Diantha.

"There's a laburnum grove near our old cottage," offered Isigo. "I
can show you, if you'd like to see it."

Pippin accepted this invitation, and Di went with them. Merry stayed
behind with Alamaric. As much as he would have liked to accompany the
other young hobbits, he had noticed that Alamaric seemed familiar
with Lady Iris--and, unlike the Thain's nearer relations, he seemed
to like her. He would be able to answer questions about the lady, and
Merry was certain that Frodo would want him to learn as much as he
could. 

But they did not discuss Iris immediately. "I've heard tales of what
a wild lad your friend Peregrin Took is," Alamaric said after the
trio of young hobbits had exited the garden. "Diamanta despairs of
him, but now I've met him for myself, I must say he seems like a
pleasant lad--high-spirited, as Tooks occasionally are." He smiled.
"You have something of the Tookish look about you yourself, Master
Brandybuck."

"I'm half a Took," Merry answered. "My mother, Lady Esmeralda, is
Diamanta's and Pippin's father's youngest sister. We're first
cousins."

Alamaric, who shared the common hobbit fondness for genealogy, was
pleased to learn this. "Then you and I are distant kinsmen," he
responded. "I thought we might be. 'Pippin,' you call him? That's
what Di calls him too. My daughter talks about him almost as much as
she does about Mr. Baggins. They made quite an impression on her. Of
course, a spirited boy like that is completely unsuitable for my
little niece Diamond, but perhaps..." He turned to watch the three
young hobbits disappearing down the lane. 

With a jolt, Merry understood that Alamaric was hopeful of a match
between his daughter and Pippin. He ruffled briefly, jealously, but
bit back a discouraging retort. After all, Alamaric could have no
idea what he and Pippin were to each other. "I doubt there are many
girls who could put up with Pip," he said more tactfully.
Unfortunately, this Di looked to be just the sort who would. Rather
than continue this distasteful topic of conversation, he asked
Alamaric, "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions, sir, on Frodo's
behalf?"

"For this investigation? No, I don't mind," Alamaric answered. "But
there's isn't much I can tell you. I never heard a word about poison
before this morning, and couldn't begin to guess who's been putting
it into Uncle Brabantius's wine."

"It isn't that. It's Lady Iris I'm curious about, and I know Frodo is
too. Can you tell me something about her? Why does everybody in the
Thain's family hate her so?"

"They think she's a climber," Alamaric responded promptly.

"Don't you?"

The older hobbit shook his head. "No more than any other woman of no
particular family and no money who receives a proposal of marriage
from the most wealthy and prominent gentleman in this part of the
Shire. It'd be a hard offer to turn down even if she wasn't in the
least greedy or scheming. That's just what my cousins and their wives
say she is. They can't forgive her for marrying their father, but I
can understand it. I say why shouldn't the old fellow marry again, if
he's of a mind to? His children resent it, but their own mother's
been dead these twenty years. I've no wish to insult her memory--Aunt
Salvia was a wonderful Lady, sweet and generous, but since I've lost
my own wife, I know how lonely it can be to live without the
companionship of a woman. Iris is pretty and attentive, and no doubt
makes Uncle Brabantius feel young again himself."

"Have you known her long?" asked Merry.

"For years. I knew her first husband, you see. Rosaldo Pumble was a
friend of mine. A sort of cousin-by-marriage to the Tooks. We North-
Tooks and the Pumbles have intermarried for generations, and we
consider them kin even when there's no blood connection. Rosaldo
worked as a land-agent for the Thain's farms in the northernmost end
of the Cleeve. I can't tell you about Iris's family, but she was most
likely the daughter of one of the farm-folk there. I first met her
just after she and Rosaldo had wed--she was a remarkably lovely girl
in those days. It'd take your breath away to see her. Uncle
Brabantius would often ride up that way on land-business when he was
younger and more fit. I went with him once in awhile, or I'd go in
his place. Uncle Brabantius must have seen Iris many times while she
was married to Rosaldo, but I never guessed he had special feelings
for her. 

"Then after Rosaldo fell ill and died suddenly, Iris wrote to Uncle
Brabantius, asking for his help. It seems that she and her boy Isigo
weren't left very well off. Uncle Brabantius invited them to come and
live here--not at the Thain's Hall, but in a little cottage not far
away."

"The one they're going to look at?" asked Merry, and waved a hand in
the direction of the lane Pippin, Di, and Isigo had gone down.

"The very one. It isn't a far walk, even for a hobbit of _his_ age.
Uncle Brabantius would call upon Iris two and three times a week, and
one day he returned from a visit and announced that he had asked her
to be his wife!"

"The family was shocked?"

"Well, we were all very much surprised." Alamaric gave Merry another
curious look. "Does this have anything to do with Uncle Brabantius's-
ah- trouble? Isigo said it wasn't why you and Mr. Baggins had come
here, but..."

Merry could only answer honestly, "I don't know. I'm only trying to
find out whatever I can information your family."

"If that's so," said Alamaric, "then I can be of help."

!~|x|~!

"It belongs to Father Brabantius," Isigo told Pippin as they and Di
approached the cottage. "He invited Mother and me to come live in it
after my father died. I'd never been to the south end of the Cleeve
before that."

"How long ago did your father die?" Pippin asked.

"Nearly three years ago. He worked for Thain Brabantius, you know.
The Thain was always good to us, even when my own father was alive
and he could have no idea that he'd be my step-father one day. Father
was forty years younger--who would guess that Brabantius would live
longer?" They reached the cottage, and Isigo held open the gate to
admit the other two. "We only lived here for a few months, until
Mother married Brabantius and we went to live at the Thain's Hall.
I'm glad for her, but I was happier here. It's a comfy place, almost
like our old home in the north, and was getting to be like a home of
its own. The Thain's Hall isn't my home, and won't ever be. _They've_
made that plain."

"The Thain's family," said Pippin.

Isigo nodded. "Di and her father are only ones who've gone out of the
way to be welcoming."

"Diamond's been sweet too," Diantha said with a meaningful smile.

"Diamond _is_ sweet," Isigo agreed. "She never says much, but when
she smiles..." A smile briefly touched his own face. "If it weren't
for those beastly brothers of hers always standing in the way, I'm
sure she'd say more to me. She's coming home today, did you know?"

Pippin didn't always pick up subtle clues, but he gathered that Isigo
was sweet on Diamond--and he was delighted to hear it. "Where are
these trees we've come to see?" he asked.

"In the back-garden. I'll show you." Isigo led them around the
hillock of a cottage, to a cluster of small decorative trees on the
far side of a rock-edged pond. They were not fenced off from the rest
of the garden, but the garden was so tiny that no cows or sheep were
likely to wander within its walls.

Pippin wasn't certain what he was supposed to do now. He'd come to
see the laburnum trees, and here they were! Since Sam had been
looking under the trees in the Thain's garden, he did the same. He
saw only plain dirt and tufts of untrimmed grass covered by some old,
dead leaves and withered seed pods than had darkened from the
characteristic golden color to a tawny brown. There were no
footprints he could see.

"Nobody lives here now?" he asked.

"No," answered Isigo. "Some of my father's things are stored here, in
boxes. I'd show you inside, but it's locked up. Father Brabantius is
sure to let you or Mr. Baggins have the key if you want a peek at the
rooms."

Frodo might, but Pippin didn't see the use of it. 

"You don't think the poison came from _here_?" asked Diantha. "Trees
like these grow all over the Cleeve. All over the Shire!"

"We had a grove like this at our old home," Isigo said in agreement,
"and laburnums grow wild in the hills, although of course the farmers
won't have them in their meadows."

"Exactly!"

Pippin was inclined to agree. Since he thought Sam would gather some
of the seed pods, he picked up a handful and tucked them into his
jacket pocket.

!~|xi|~!

When Frodo left Lady Iris, he returned to the slope of the hill
outside his bedroom window to find that his friends had gone. He
quickly spotted Sam and Merry in the garden next door, sitting and
talking with an older gentleman, but Pippin was nowhere in sight.
Frodo went down to join his friends and be introduced to Alamaric
Took, who had heard a lot about Frodo from his daughter and was
delighted to meet him at last.

"And where's Pippin got to?" Frodo asked.

"Off with Di and Isigo," Merry replied with a wry note that puzzled
his cousin. "They've gone to look at some other laburnum trees."

"Some other-?" Frodo glanced at the cluster of trees in the Thain's
garden.

"I got some pods from under _those_," Sam reported, and patted his
bulging coat pocket. "But there's no way o' knowing if that's where
the poison came from."

"Is there a way to find out?" Alamaric asked, no longer troubling to
hide his curiosity. His first shock at hearing about the danger to
his uncle Brabantius had abated, and as long as no harm had come yet,
he was going to enjoy this opportunity of seeing the famous detective
at work.

"Not that I know of. But I've been thinking that we can narrow down
the possibilities of who brought it into the house, and how it got
into the wine." Frodo excused himself; he didn't ask Sam to come with
him, but Sam followed him anyway. Merry remained with Alamaric.

They went into the Thain's Hall to the butler's pantry. Tulipant was
seated at the table in the middle of the room, polishing the best
silver and looking rather pale and ill. He quickly rose to his feet
as the detective and his friend came in, and asked if there was
anything he could do for them.

"As a matter of fact, yes," said Frodo. "That wine you carried from
the Thain's study yesterday--have you poured it away yet?"

"No, Mr. Baggins, not yet. I thought as it might be wanted, so I put
it aside--over there." Tulipant indicated the decanter sitting on top
of a squat cabinet against the far wall. The glass of wine the Thain
had poured for himself but not drunk still sat on the tray beside it.

Frodo went to the decanter and removed the stopper to sniff the wine
inside: it had a heady pleasant smell, redolent of dry apples and
oak, and probably had an oaky flavor to match. He then picked up the
glass and held it up to examine the contents. The liquid was very
dark red, clear, not clouded, and there was no sign of sediment. Nor
was there any in the decanter. He asked, and Tulipant confirmed that
he always strained the wines through a sieve when he decanted them.

Frodo dipped a finger into the wine and was about to put a few drops
on his tongue when Sam cried out, "What're you doing?"

"I wanted to see if I could taste the poison. I won't swallow it."

"Here, you let me do that." Sam took the glass from him.

"Do you know what laburnum tastes like, Sam?"

"No, no more'n you do, but I heard tell the seed-pods is bitter. And
I know what wine tastes like, and what it oughtn't taste like." Sam
took a sip, then spit it out into a slops bowl Tulipant quickly
provided. 

"Well?" asked Frodo.

"It's a strong-tasting wine to begin with," Sam reported after he had
rinsed his mouth with water. "'Less the poison was bitter as bile,
you'd have to put a lot of it in before it'd be noticed."

"Thain Brabantius must be used to the taste of his own special wine.
Surely he could detect a subtle difference, if something were added
to it. Tulipant," Frodo turned to the butler, who had been observing
these proceedings with great interest, "you've drunk some of the
Thain's Own, haven't you? You told me yesterday that you sample the
wine whenever you open a new bottle."

"Yes, Mr. Baggins, that's so," Tulipant answered. "I had a bit of
this last when I opened the bottle, to sure as the wine hadn't been
tainted by a bad cork, as sometimes happens. I've come to know the
taste of it over the years. If you don't mind, Mr. Gamgee-" He took
the wine-glass from Sam and gulped a mouthful. Frodo gave a cry of
protest, but Tulipant only swished the wine around in his mouth in
the peculiar, energetic way that butlers had when testing a wine's
flavor, then spit it out into the slops bowl and rinsed his mouth.

"Not to say it's bitter, sir," he told Frodo, "but there's an odd
undertaste."

"And you're certain that taste wasn't there when you poured this same
wine from its bottle?"

"No, Mr. Baggins. I would have noticed it."

"When did you open this bottle?"

"It'll be in my pantry-book." Tulipant located the book on a small
table near the door to the wine cellar and looked at the last page he
had written on. "June the fourteenth. His Thainship might take a
glass or two of his wine of an evening and this decanter'd last him a
week in the usual way of things, but he fell ill just afterwards and
it's hardly been touched since. You see there's nearly half of it
left."

"How long was June the fourteenth before the Thain had his illness?"
asked Frodo.

"The day before." The butler looked distressed at this thought. "I
was never took ill myself, but if there was anything wrong with the
wine when I opened the bottle, I mightn't've drunk enough. I only
took a sip, to test as you might say."

"What about his Thainship?" asked Sam. "Didn't he notice the taste?"

"If he did," Tulipant answered, "he never said so to me. I remember
when I carried it into his Thainship's study. He was a-sitting at his
desk, going over his big books with Mr. Florisel, and as he was busy-
like, he didn't come to drink it `til later. He normally likes a
taste of a fresh decanter when I bring it in. He didn't drink of this
one `til the next day."

!~|xii|~!

"You'll have to ask his Thainship," Sam said as they left the
butler's pantry.

"I intend to," Frodo declared. "There are also a few other things I
want to ask the Thain about."

"Such as what?"

"Aunt Diamanta and Pippin have each posed an astute question: Who
else in this household besides Lady Iris has a reason to poison the
Thain, and why have they chosen to do it now? Let's seek answers to
these questions, and see where our inquiries lead. Then we can make a
good list of our suspects."

They were on their way to see Brabantius, when they were intercepted
by Alhasrus at the head of the tunnel that led to the Thain's study.
"Mr. Baggins, a moment of your time, if you can spare it. I wondered
if I might have a word with you, ah-" He looked at Sam. "alone,
please."

"Shirriff Gamgee is completely in my confidence," Frodo told him, but
Alhasrus was not inclined to confide in a shirriff. "Oh, very well."
Frodo murmured to his friend, "Sam, will you go and talk to the other
servants--the cook, the kitchen maids--while I speak with Mr. Took?
They know the workings of the household nearly as well as Tulipant.
Find out if they've had any visitors in the kitchens lately. I'll
join you as soon as I've finished here."

Sam agreed to this, and turned to go back down the kitchen tunnel
they had just come up. Frodo accompanied Alhasrus into the parlor
where he had met the North-Took family the evening before; it was
unoccupied now. The Thain's heir took a seat in one comfortable chair
by the unlit fire, and invited Frodo to sit down as well. "Have you
found anything- ah- conclusive yet, Mr. Baggins?"

"No, not yet," Frodo answered, and thought that this was not a
question that required confidentiality. He expected to be asked it
regularly by everyone involved until he could finally name the
culprit.

"I'd like to believe it's all a wild fancy of a hobbit in his
dotage," said Alhasrus, "but I've spoken to Father since he made his-
ah- astonishing announcement last night, and I'm forced to accept
that what he says is indeed so." He shook his head. "I can hardly
believe any hobbit capable of such a thing. My wife says it must be
Iris."

"Don't you think so, sir?"

"I don't like that woman but, to be fair, I can't call her a murderer
without proof. Just because she's after Father's money, it doesn't
follow that she'd poison him for it. What I wanted to say to you, Mr.
Baggins, is this: I want this matter settled as quickly as possible,
not only for Father's sake, but for the rest of us. We can't go on
for many days with this terrible suspicion between us. It will tear
us apart. I will be the head of the family one day, when Father
passes on--though I hope it will not be too soon! But when that day
comes, it will be my duty to ensure that we have peace in this
household above all else. We must live with Iris and that son of hers
in our midst... unless they are the ones who've done this."

Frodo took the hint that Alhasrus wouldn't be sorry if Iris did turn
out to be the one who had poisoned her husband, but he was determined
not to make accusations that might destroy the family peace for years
to come. "I will find the person responsible as quickly as I can," he
assured Alhasrus, "but you must understand that an investigation
takes time. We have to find the information that will lead us to the
culprit. The proof you need. My friends and I have begun our search
already, inside the household as well as outside."

"Outside?" Alhasrus brightened at the suggestion that someone outside
the household might be the poisoner. 

"It may be so. It would be easier for someone within the household to
have tampered with your Father's special wine, but so far as I can
determine, only one decanter of wine has been poisoned. This most
probably happened in the middle of June, if the bottle was not
tampered with in the wine cellar long before it was opened. Can you
tell me what visitors were at the Thain's Hall during that time, just
before your father was taken ill?" Frodo asked. 

"We did have guests in the house that week," Alhasrus said, then
reconsidered and shook his head, "but it couldn't possible be any one
of them."

"Who?"

"My sister Althaea, for one. She came to dinner the night before
Father took ill."

Frodo hadn't known that the Thain also had a daughter. He recalled
that Pippin had said that Diamond was visiting an aunt, but 'aunt' in
hobbit-terms might be any older female relation regardless of the
precise degree of kinship and not necessarily a mother's or father's
sister. "Does she live far from here?"

"Althaea has her own home a mile or so up the Cleeve," Alhasrus
answered. "Low-wood. She comes to visit us often, sometimes with her
husband or her youngest daughter Vidalia." 

"Were they here then?"

"Not that day, no. My cousin Alamaric and his daughter Diantha were
also here, but they are in and out of the Hall all the time. Some
other cousins, Gradantius Took and his wife Glovina, my daughter-in-
law's parents, came to dinner one night. Oh, and Florisel Pumble-Took
was here for a few days just before Father fell ill, but he didn't
stay with us overnight. You see, it couldn't be one of _them_. We've
had other callers, ladies to see Diamanta or Aspid or Iris, but no
one who was free to wander around the house and get into Father's
wine." Alhasrus seemed disturbed; an outsider would be a much more
agreeable solution to the problem of who had poisoned the Thain, but
the most likely 'outsiders' were as much family as the occupants of
the Hall. "Is it possible that someone snuck into our kitchens?" he
asked Frodo. "An acquaintance of our butler or cook, or one of the
maids?"

"That is possible," Frodo agreed. "Mr. Gamgee has gone to ask your
servants. Perhaps something of the sort will turn up."

Alhasrus's hopes were revived by this reassurance. 

"I was going to ask your father a few questions, but perhaps you
wouldn't mind answering them as well," Frodo continued. "It may help
my investigation to move more swiftly."

"Yes, of course. What do you want to know?"

"I've heard there have been quarrels among the Tooks."

"Oh, yes. Since Iris and her son have been here, we've had many."

"No, not about them. I mean other quarrels between yourselves,
between the Thain and his family, for other reasons. Before Lady Iris
married your father."

"Oh." Alhasrus was taken aback, but quickly re-composed himself.
"Yes, I suppose there were a few," he said. "What family doesn't have
disagreements?"

"What did you disagree about?" asked Frodo.

"Nothing important," said Alhasrus. "Nothing that concerns you and
your investigation, Mr. Baggins." 

In spite of Alhasrus's declared determination to have things settled
quickly, Frodo could see that he would supply nothing more helpful on
this point.

!~|xiii|~!

They parted at the parlor door. The Thain's heir was congenial, but
Frodo suspected that Alhasrus was now eager to get away from him and
his questions. He went down the tunnel to the Thain's study to see if
Brabantius was in and willing to talk. 

"Of course, you are welcome to disturb me any time you wish, Mr.
Baggins!" Brabantius greeted him warmly. "I am in your debt, for
you've done me good already."

"But I haven't done anything!" Frodo protested.

"Indeed you have. Since we spoke yesterday, I find I feel much more
hopeful of my future. I am able to eat my dinner again, and surely
going without is torment to any right-minded hobbit! Now, how may I
aid you?" 

Frodo sat down and briefly told the elderly Thain what deductions and
discoveries he and his friends had made so far with regard to the use
of laburnum poison, most likely taken from the trees in the garden,
and how Sam and Tulipant had tasted the wine. He did not mention
Diamanta's and Aspid's accusations against Iris, nor Iris's hints
about family quarrels.

"I wanted to ask you about the wine, sir. Tulipant says he can detect
an odd undertaste to it, but doesn't recall if the same taste was
there when the wine was first decanted. Do you recall when you first
tasted that wine if there was anything odd about it?"

"I wish I could," said Brabantius, "but if there was anything wrong,
I'm afraid I didn't notice. I'd been going over the accounts to add
in the northern rents and had no time to relax and savor the wine. I
gulped down my usual glass without a thought. And after I recovered
from my illness and my suspicions were aroused, everything tasted as
if there might be poison in it." 

"I hope if you don't mind some more personal questions, sir."

"No," Brabantius replied after a moment's hesitation, "not if they
are to the point, and they will help you."

"Have you made any recent changes to your will?" asked Frodo.

"Yes, certainly, after I married again. It was the only sensible
thing to do, since I had new family members to provide for."

"Can I ask what these changes were?"

"I don't see why you shouldn't know, Mr. Baggins. I've never troubled
to conceal it from anyone. The small bequests are the same as they've
always been--gifts of money and possessions to distant relatives,
tenants, and my faithful servants. After my first wife's death, the
main portion of my property was divided three ways, equally between
my two sons and my daughter. The Hall and the land attached to the
Thainship were to go to Alhasrus as my heir, with the understanding
that his brother and sister and their children and grandchildren
might always find a home here if they wished it."

"And after your re-marriage?"

"I had to think of Iris too, of course. She is to consider the Hall
_her_ home as long as she lives, and then it will become the property
of Alhasrus or his son if she outlives him, and not go to Isigo. The
Hall must be kept in the Took family, you see. I've provided for
Isigo too, but Alhasrus is heir to the Thainship--he'll be the next
Thain after me and no will can alter that. As long as the Hall
belongs to Iris, she has the same understanding about my children and
their families finding a home here. My fortune is mainly divided into
four equal portions now instead of three, and Isigo and the
grandchildren will come in for smaller bequests."

"Is everyone aware of these arrangements?" Frodo asked, thinking of
Alhasrus's statement about having to live with Iris and her son.

"More or less," Brabantius replied. "I've never made my plans a
secret, as I've said. My sons are well aware of these changes. I made
it all plain to them, especially the disposition of the Hall, when
the new will was written up. I suppose they've told their wives and
their sister, and _they_ told the grandchildren. Iris read my will
when I signed it."

"Did anybody make objections?"

"I imagine s
me! Alhasrus has cause to resent it most, but after all, I couldn't
leave my wife unprovided-for and hope for generosity towards her from
_him_ and Diamanta."

!~|xiv|~!

"-and _that's_ when Mr. Baggins said, 'Go on and have a good look,
lads, 'cause you an't getting your hands on a bit of it!'"

Sam was seated at the large, circular table in the middle of the
servants' dining hall, with three maids and the pantry-boy hanging on
his words. Mrs. Scrubbs, the cook, had provided him with a cup of tea
and some currant-buns fresh from the oven, and stood listening from
the kitchen doorway while she kept one eye on the luncheon leg-of-
lamb on its spit and several boiling pots on the stove.

Frodo, returning from his own interview with the Thain, stopped at
the entrance on the opposite end of the room. He couldn't help
smiling at the sight of the enthralled audience gathered around his
friend. Sam had a way with maid-servants and older women. He didn't,
however, recall saying anything like the sentence Sam had just
attributed to him.

"You never saw nothing like how those Longchalk lads fell over
themselves when Mr. Baggins told `em how he'd seen through `em," Sam
went on with his story. "They didn't think the Mayor's son was
cheating at racing at all, but only wanted to make a scandal by
saying so. Meek as mice, they were, once we called 'em out on it."

"But what did they want the gold for, then?" one of the maids asked.

"If Lad Whitfoot'd given it to 'm, that'd be like proof that he was
guilty as they was saying, and nobody'd believe contrary-wise and his
reputation'd be ruined. Because of Mr. Baggins, he was saved."

With horror, Frodo realized which investigation of theirs Sam was
recounting. "Ah, Sam-" he said tentatively, blushing as all eyes
turned to notice him, "you aren't telling them _that_ story?"

"Not _all_ of it, Frodo," Sam assured him, and introduced his
audience around the table. "This is Miss Elsey Cragtop and her
sister, Miss Tilsey, and Miss Lacy Appledore. The lad here is Jeddy
Tubrose. I was just telling 'em that you snuck out o' the inn under
the very noses of them Longchalks to find me. That's all."

"It must be wonderful to have so many exciting adventures, as Mr.
Gamgee's been telling us, Mr. Baggins," Jeddy said wistfully. 

"You were supposed to be asking questions, not telling stories,
Sam," Frodo chided.

The maids came vigorously to Sam's defense. "Oh, he did!" the same
girl who had spoken before, Lacy, protested. "He asked us whether
anybody else was here in the kitchens afore his Thainship took ill."

"And we told 'm!" said Tilsey. "Everything we could tell, Mr.
Baggins. On our honor!"

"I'll tell you the same and I told your friend here, Mr. Baggins.
There's been nobody here in _my_ kitchens as didn't ought to be,"
Mrs. Scrubbs said, and brandished the large wooden stirring-spoon she
held in one hand as if she intended to drive out any would-be
intruders with it. 

"The maids said as how they'd rather go walking out with their
sweethearts out-of-doors when they get the chance," Sam reported,
which provoked delighted giggles from all three girls.

"Might someone have gotten into the butler's pantry or wine-cellars
unnoticed?" asked Frodo.

"Not through _my_ kitchen," Mrs. Scrubbs insisted. "If I'm not here
from breakfast-time `til the dinner dishes is washed and put away, at
least one o' my girls is. And Mr. Tulipant's always about if he's not
looking after his Thainship. There's only the one door that goes out
through the scullery, and it goes up to the gardens and the rubbish
heap at the top o' Eastsides Hill. There's a cart track that runs up
that way, for deliveries 'n' such, but it's a climb for any visitors
to take if they want to call upon us. Better they knock at the front
door!" It was then the cook noticed that one of the pots on the stove
behind was boiling up dangerously and she went to attend to it.

"You'd never think it was one of us, Mr. Baggins!" Jeddy asked.
"Nobody aside from Mr. Tulipant serves the wine, and he'd never let
me touch a glass as had the Thain's Special in it!"

"Poor Mr. Tulipant," said Lacy. "He's taken it awful hard--as if it's
all his fault for carrying the wine to his Thainship."

"I don't suspect you," Frodo told the boy. Unless one of these young
hobbits bore a grudge toward their master, he doubted they could have
taken the trouble to poison him. Did they even have the opportunity
to do so? "You've all been trusted in the Thain's service for many
years."

"Not so many years for me!" answered Jeddy. "I only came to work at
the Hall last summer, though I used to help out my dad in the garden
since I was a little lad."

"And none of us has been here more'n four or five years," said Elsey.
This was usual; most young girls from the local farms and villages
who took work as servants in a grand household only intended to be
there for a short while. It gave them a chance to get out of their
homes, see new places and meet new people, learn more about
housekeeping than their mothers had taught them, and earn some money
before they married. Few made a career out of service.

"I suppose Mr. Tulipant's been with Thain Brabantius longer than
anyone else," said Frodo. 

"Not longer'n my dad," said Jeddy with a note of pride. "He's been
here since _his_ dad was gardener."

"And what about Mrs. Scrubbs?" asked Sam. "She must've been here for
ages."

"Oh, not Mrs. Scrubbs," said Tilsey. "She only came last year, after
our last cook left. Her Ladyship hired her."

"It's not us. It's _them_ you're thinking of, isn't it?" asked Lacy.
"One o' his Thainship's family?" 

Frodo didn't answer this, but Sam's eyes briefly met his and the
maids understood.

"Oh, how horrible!" cried Elsey. "`Tisn't any wonder his poor
Thainship's been in such a state."

"Which one d'you think it is, Mr. Baggins?" asked Lacy.

"I'll wager anything you like it's that new Missus Stuck-up," Tilsey
said. Her frankness and the disrespectful nickname astonished both
Frodo and Sam. 

"You mean her ladyship?" asked Sam.

"No! I meant Missus Persifilla, as is Mr. Ulfidius's wife," the girl
explained. "I do her lady-maiding for her and she's a wrong un, I can
tell you! Greedy. Gives herself airs like she's Lady o' the Hall
already. Gave up a good lad for it, too. No, I never meant her
ladyship, Mr. Gamgee. I wouldn't say a word bad about _her_."

"You'd best not, Tilsey Cragtop!" said Mrs. Scrubbs. She had finished
attending to her pots on the stove and stood in the kitchen doorway
regarding the maid with hands on her hips and a fierce scowl on her
face. "Her ladyship's as fine a lady as ever there was and I won't
hear no word against her. There's enough o' _that_ from his
Thainship's family, as ought to know better."

Frodo was surprised that Mrs. Scrubbs should show such ferocious
loyalty toward Lady Iris, when Iris had only hired her a few months
ago. He wondered if they had known each other much longer than that.

"I didn't, Missus Scrubbs," Tilsey defended herself. "I like her
ladyship. If anybody says _she_ did it, I wouldn't believe `em."

"Nor more'n I would. Now you girls and Jeddy've spent enough time
chattering with these detectives," Mrs. Scrubbs answered. "They'll be
wanting their lunch laid out in the dining-room soon enough, and
we'll be wanting ours laid out here. Beg your pardon, Mr. Baggins,
Mr. Gamgee, but we've got work to do and I need my maids to do it.
You'll have to go." She was adamant; any further questions would have
to wait. Frodo asked if he and Sam could go out the back way and see
the kitchen gardens and, once Mrs. Scrubbs' permission had been
granted, they got out of her way.

!~|xv|~!

"We shall have to speak again to Mrs. Scrubbs and that maid,
Tilsey," Frodo said as they ascended the steeply slanted tunnel that
led up from the scullery to the back door atop the hill. "Will you
talk to them, Sam? Find out how long the cook has been acquainted
with Lady Iris, and especially find out what Tilsey means by saying
that Persifilla Took is a 'wrong un.' I've no impression of the young
lady at all, except that she seems rather flirtsome for a married
woman."

"She might've meant nothing by it," said Sam, huffing as he tried to
keep up with Frodo. "A lady's maid'll take slights easy, if somebody
like Missus Took was high-handed with her and put on airs."

"Perhaps, but ask her just the same. Chat with them all, as the
opportunity presents itself. The more the servants are willing to
talk to you, the more we are likely to find out about the Tooks. They
like you, Sam, and the Tooks aren't eager to tell me anything.
They've closed ranks over their family quarrels and shut their mouths
tightly. The servants will know all about it. But for goodness sake,
please don't tell any more embarrassing stories about me wearing
Angelica's clothes!"

"Honest, Frodo, I never told `em about that part o' it," Sam
answered. "I only said as you disguised yourself so you could sneak
out past them Longchalks, and never said disguised as what. You know
I wouldn't."

They emerged through the door at the end of the tunnel, a round,
wooden hatchway that lay at a slant on the hillside. A series of
terraces had been cut into the slope around it, and the kitchen
gardens laid out on them. Sam sat down on a split log that served as
a bench and caught his breath while Frodo looked around. The neat
rows of growing vegetables were sheltered by some dwarf apple and
peach trees against a low stone wall, and a few stone outbuildings
lay on the other side. At some distance beyond was a rubbish heap.
Above rose the rocky crest of the hill like a ragged line of brown
teeth. A single dirt road ran along the ridge below the crest. There
were no laburnum trees, and the herbs that were grown and dried here
were all harmless plants for common household use.

"Besides, there aren't no more stories to tell. You only wore
Angelica's dress the once," Sam said, regarding his friend, "and you
looked awfully pretty in it."

Frodo turned to give him a smile. "Why, thank you, Sam. You might
also have a word with Jeddy's father. I know you won't mind having to
talk 'shop' with another gardener."

Sam didn't mind, but he wondered where these questions he was
supposed to ask were leading. "You don't suspect `em, do you, Frodo?"

"Not Jeddy nor the maids, no, but the older servants are worth
considering," Frodo replied. "Tulipant, of course, has access to the
wine. Mrs. Scrubbs has a kitchen at her disposal where she can brew
up whatever potions she likes without drawing attention, and the
gardener could easily gather laburnum pods or other poisonous plants
from the Thain's garden at his leisure. Perhaps they are all three
working together." He laughed. "Well, at any rate, we must look into
the possibility. I'm afraid, dear Sam, that the more we see, the more
clear it is to me that the Thain's wine was poisoned while it was in
his study by someone within the house--if not one of the servants,
then one of the family."
 
"More likely to be one o' the family," said Sam.

"Yes," Frodo agreed, and sighed. "If Alhasrus is telling the truth,
and he has little reason to lie, there were only a few visitors to
the Hall the day before the Thain fell ill, when the wine was mostly
likely poisoned. They are all members of the family too." As he
repeated what Alhasrus had told him, he continued to look out over
the landscape of the Cleeve. The view was magnificent from this
height; he could see miles of the green valley, fields and farms,
cottages boxed in by dark lines of evergreen hedgerows, clusters of
buildings along dusty lanes, and on the far side, the matching wall
of the westward hill. This part of the Shire was more rough and
craggy than the rolling southern downs he was used to, but attractive
in its own way. Frodo sometimes found it hard to believe that
anything so terrible as murder could happen in such a snug and safe-
looking valley, but experience had taught him that evil could
flourish in the pleasantest places.

Down at the bottom of the hill, he could see that Merry was still
sitting with Alamaric and he wondered what they could be talking
about for so long. He also noticed a carriage coming up the lane
toward the Thain's Hall. 

"It an't going to be easy for none o' them in the end," Sam said.

"No. At least, Thain Brabantius seems to grasp that. He's not a
foolish hobbit. He's had time to ponder the possibilities and what
they will mean to all his family as well as himself if it turns out
one of them has tried to kill him. For the others, it's a new idea,
and not a pleasant one. They are already divided. The Thain's
children and grandchildren dislike Lady Iris, and are happy to
suspect her. They are afraid to consider it might be anyone else."

The carriage stopped before the Hall, and three ladies climbed out.
The slope immediately below the kitchen gardens was too steep to
scale safely without a rope, and so Frodo and Sam went back down
through the kitchens to reach the front of the house. As they
approached the front door of the Thain's Hall via the main tunnel,
they could hear sounds of a minor commotion ahead. Alamargo and
Alhasrus and their wives had already gathered to greet the ladies,
and Alamaric and Merry had come indoors with the new arrivals. With
the porter dragging in baggage as well, the front hall was crowded
with hobbits all talking at once.

When they reached the front hall, Frodo could see the three ladies.
One, Diamond, he recognized, although she appeared more mature and
poised than she'd been when he'd last seen her two years ago; the
other two were another young lady a little older than Diamond and far
more poised, and a grand older lady. Both had Tookish features, and
he could guess who they were before he heard their names. 

"Althaea!" Alamargo greeted his sister while Aspid welcomed their
daughter home with hugs and kisses. "And Vida, my dear girl, how
lovely to see you. Hasn't Valumus come with you?"

"My husband is indisposed," Althaea replied. 

"He's not _very_ ill, I hope?" Aspid asked pointedly. "Poor Valumus
seems to be indisposed so often."

"When he's in such a state, there's nothing to be done about it,"
Althaea answered shortly. "He prefers to be left alone, in peace and
quiet. As long as we were to accompany Diamond home, I thought it
best that Vida and I spend our afternoon here--if you don't mind."

"No, certainly not!" said Alhasrus. "Father will be so happy to see
you."

"What's this news I've heard about your visitors?" She glanced back
at Merry, who stood in the open doorway behind her, then looked over
her brothers' shoulders to find Frodo and Sam at the other end of the
front hall, and regarded them with curiosity and mild disdain.

"We have detectives in the house, Althaea. It's Father's idea. You
know how odd he's been lately." Alamargo took his sister by the arm,
and he and Alhasrus explained things to her in quick, lowered voices.
Only fragments of their conversation could be heard. Vidalia also
regarded the visitors with wide-eyed curiosity. Diamond met Frodo's
eyes, and gave him a shy smile.

"We have heard about you, of course, Mr. Baggins," Althaea said once
Diamanta had introduced them, "though I am astonished to find you and
your friends _here_." 

"I remember you, Mr. Baggins," Diamond added softly. "When I met
Peregrin Took."

"Where _is_ Peregrin?" Diamanta asked and looked around the front
hall, as if she had only now noticed his absence.

"He and my Di and Isigo went off together," said Alamaric. "It
must've been at least an hour ago."

"They're taking an awfully long time just to look at some trees,"
Merry observed in that same wry tone that Frodo had noticed before.

"Trees?" echoed Althaea with a note of puzzlement.

Frodo was ready to explain this part of his theory. Since discussing
the question with Sam, he was fairly certain that laburnum was the
poison used, and it was most probably extracted from seed pods
gathered from the tree in the garden. 

"You seem to be suggesting that someone in this house deliberately
made up this potion to give to my father," Althaea said when she and
the others had heard about the effects of laburnum poisoning.

"I'm afraid it looks that way, Mrs. Lowfoot. I've been given leave by
the Thain to ask questions. I hope you won't object if I have
anything to ask you?"

"But what can you wish to ask _me_?"

"I thought perhaps you might have seen something that could be of
help to me," said Frodo. "You were here when your father was ill,
weren't you?"

"Yes, I came as soon as I heard the news," Althaea answered.

"Your brother tells me that you were here _before_ your father's
illness."

"Yes, we came to dinner the night before, my husband and I." She
glanced at her brothers, as if wondering which of them had brought
Mr. Baggins and his questions upon her. 

"What a horrid profession you have, Mr. Baggins," said Vidalia.
"Prying into everyone's private affairs. Asking questions that are
nobody's business to be asked! I don't know how a gentlehobbit can
bear it."

"It is an unpleasant business sometimes," Frodo agreed, "but then
murder is a nastier one. Our prying has found out quite a lot of
murderers. You wouldn't want the person who did this to your
grandfather to go around undetected, would you, Miss Lowfoot?"

"But grandfather hasn't died," the young lady responded.

"No, but the poisoner might take it into his head to try again until
he succeeds, or to try the same trick on someone else."

"But you certainly can't think my mother has anything to do with it?
Or my uncles."

"There is only one person it can be," said Diamanta. "Frodo knows who
as well as we all do, and this investigation is a waste of time."

"I must say, I find the whole thing difficult to believe-" said
Althaea.

"It is true, my dear," Brabantius, who had come down the hall from
his study, being informed that guests had arrived. He and Iris were
arm-in-arm. "The facts are there, and can't be avoided no matter how
much we might wish it weren't so. Mr. Baggins has done only what I've
asked him to, and you are to give him every assistance, Althaea, and
you too, Vida... as I have already made clear to your brothers and
cousins, and dear Iris." He patted his wife's arm.

It was interesting to see how the grown children of the Thain and
their spouses, grand ladies and gentlemen, instantly turned into
chastened children. As Althaea looked down, abashed, Frodo could
detect a resemblance to timid little Diamond. The Thain was very old
and had grown frail since his illness, but his will was still strong
and he remained a force to be reckoned with in his own household. 

There were more kisses and hugs of welcome from the Thain and his
lady. Iris not only agreed that the guests were more than welcome to
stay the afternoon, but invited them to dinner. 

"But can't we please talk about something else?" she requested. "Such
a disagreeable topic isn't fit for the dining room! It will put us
all off our food."

Frodo begged her pardon. "You may rest assured, my lady, that the
lunch will be quite safe," he said. "Sam and I were questioning the
staff while your Mrs. Scrubbs was preparing it, and we can both vouch
for its wholesomeness."

"I certainly hope so!" Iris laughed. "One has to trust one's cook,
you know, and I would trust Mrs. Scrubbs with my life."

"We shall all have to," said Brabantius.

The group went into the dining room. Ulfidius and Persifilla had
joined them by that time, but Diamond's brothers, Hilbarus and
Helimarcus, were absent. The maids brought in the leg-of-lamb and
covered dishes full of steaming vegetables to set on the table. As
the Tooks and their guests took their seats, Alamaric said, "I wonder
where Di and the lads have gone to? The poor things will miss lunch."

!~|xvi|~!

Pippin, Diantha, and Isigo had gotten their own lunch. When they left
the empty cottage, all three young hobbits agreed that they were
ravenous, having missed their elevenses. Isigo suggested that instead
of going back to the Thain's Hall, they stop at a tavern up the lane. 

The tavern's bar was not yet officially open for business when they
went in. "I couldn't serve public ale or beer afore midday," the
tavern-keeper told them apologetically. "And anyway, Miss Diantha,
you know what Mr. Alamaric says-"

"Father says-" Di began, grinning.

"I'm not to give you a beer at any time." As the tavern-keeper spoke,
Di said these words along with him. "That's right, Miss. Not 'til
you're a full three-and-thirty. But I can give you and the lads a
drop o' cider."

"And a bite to eat, please?" requested Isigo.

Mugs of cider, a gooseberry tart, and a platter of cold ham and
cheese were provided. The trio settled down at a table in the empty
common-room, and were enjoying their meal when a handsome, fair-
haired hobbit of middle years emerged from the hallway behind the
bar, where there were two spare rooms reserved for travelers. 

"Uncle Flori!" cried Di when she saw him. "I didn't know you were
here."

"Uncle Flori always stays at the tavern when he visits," Isigo told
Pippin. "You should've let us know you were in the neighborhood,
Uncle."

"I only just arrived last night. Hello, children," Uncle Flori
replied, and rumpled the curls of the two young hobbits. "You
shouldn't be swilling down ale at this hour- Ah, it's cider, is it?
That's much better. More respectable for young persons, especially
young ladies. Who's your friend? I thought I knew all the Tooks in
the Cleeve."

"Pippin's one of the South-Tooks," Diantha explained. "Thain
Paladin's son. He's never been to our part of the Shire before."

"Nor do I go down to the south Shire very often to call on our
relatives there," said Uncle Flori. "I'm pleased to make your
acquaintance, Master Took. Staying at the Thain's Hall, are you? Now
perhaps you children can tell me--what on Middle-earth is going on at
the Hall? When I came in last night, this room was full of local
folk, and I heard all kinds of alarming stories about the poor old
Thain going mad, and sherriffs and detectives being called in. I say,
Uncle Brabantius is all right, isn't he?"

They told him what was going on. Since none of the three young
hobbits were the type to keep secrets, they told him everything they
knew about Brabantius's worst suspicions and the extent of Frodo's
investigation so far. Pippin only kept his mouth shut about the
accusations Diamanta and Aspid had made against Isigo's mother.

"My goodness!" cried the older hobbit when he had heard all. "How
terrible! I was thinking of going over for dinner this evening-"

"Don't be afraid, Uncle Flori," Di laughed. "The soup won't be
poisoned!"

"It isn't that, Imp," Uncle Flori replied and tweaked the tip of her
ear. "Will they want me underfoot with so much going on?"

"Oh, they won't mind," said Isigo. "Why don't you come back with us?
Mama will be pleased to see you. She needs her friends about her now.
You know how they've all been about us since we came to live with
them, and this has only made it worse for her."

Uncle Flori agreed that he would, and went to find the tavern-keeper
to see about his own luncheon.

"Who is he?" Pippin asked. "You didn't say. Is he a relative of
ours?" He didn't have Frodo's detective skills, but he couldn't help
noticing that the older hobbit did have a Tookish look about him, and
both Di and Isigo had called him 'Uncle.'

"Yes, he is," said Isigo. "One relative we have in common. He's
Florisel Pumble-Took--a cousin of my father's on the Pumble side, and
a distant cousin to the Thain on the Took side."

At that moment, Hilbarus and Helimarcus Took came into the tavern,
and did not appear happy to see the other trio there ahead of them.
"Does your father know where you are, Diantha," asked Helimarcus,
"and who you're with?"

"Yes, he does!" Di shot back. "Are you following us, to spy?"

"Following _you_?" her cousin echoed. "Goodness, no! We were trying
to get away from all this ugly business with poisons and detectives.
It's no pleasure to find you here, my girl, nor your companions. But
who you choose to keep company with is thankfully no concern of
ours."

Pippin thought that these remarks were directed at him, as one of the
intruding 'detectives,' until Hilbarus, the elder brother, added,
"Better it's _you_ in such company, I suppose, than our sister." Then
he said to Isigo, "She's coming back today, so mind you keep a
respectful distance, Pumble, and don't get any ideas about making up
to _her_ and worming your way into our family like your mother has."

Isigo turned very red. "I never had any such idea," he retorted,
rising to his feet. "I wouldn't want to be part of _your_ family,
thank you!"

The two North-Took lads stepped forward and Di sprang up, to side
with Isigo. Pippin was about to stand also--after all, he couldn't
just sit there while his friends were in need of aid, and _he_ knew
something about fighting--when the tavern-keeper and Florisel
returned from the kitchen, averting the brawl that was about to break
out between the young hobbits. Di put her hand on Isigo's arm, and
the pair sat down again. Hilbarus and Helimarcus turned with
exaggerated casualness and strolled to the bar to order ales, for it
was now just past noon. 

All was peaceful for several minutes. Hilbarus and Helimarcus drank
their ales and Florisel joined the others at their table. When the
mugs of cider were empty, Pippin got up to have them refilled. He
would have preferred an ale himself, but it didn't seem fair to drink
in front of Di when she wasn't allowed to enjoy one too.

"It's a shocking thing to see," Helimarcus said to him as he stood at
the bar while the mugs were attended to. "You, a Thain's son, taking
up with the worst lot in the Cleeve--that wild, unnatural girl and
that scheming boy."

"Oh, I'm worse that the two of them together," Pippin answered with a
grin. Since one fight had been avoided, he wasn't going to be
provoked into another one.

"You work for this Mr. Baggins?" asked Hilbarus.

"I help Frodo whenever I can," Pippin replied. "He doesn't pay me--I
do it because it's fun. What better reason is there to do anything?"

"Fun for you and Mr. Baggins, perhaps," grumbled Helimarcus, "but not
for us."

"What's he up to with Grandfather?" asked his brother.

"What d'you mean?" Pippin asked back.

"This business about poison in the wine," Hilbarus explained. "It's
all a waste of time, isn't it?"

"You think you know who the poisoner is?" asked Pippin, expecting
that Hilbarus would have the same opinion as his mother and aunt. 

"No--because there isn't one! Old hobbits are apt to fancy odd things
like food tasting funny and people plotting against them. I'm certain
this is all in Grandfather's imagination, and your Mr. Baggins
encourages it for the sake of poking his nose in where it doesn't
belong."

"If Frodo says he believes Thain Brabantius has been poisoned, it's
because he truly does," Pippin defended his friend. "He wouldn't
lie."

"If you say so," Hilbarus said with a shrug. "But I think that this
famous detective is so keen on seeing murderers everywhere, he looks
for them even when there are none to be found. Our home will be
turned all topsy-turvy and everyone upset, and what's it all for?
Nothing. It'd be much better if Mr. Baggins puts a stop this
investigation of his and tells Grandfather there's nothing in it.
Then you can all pack up and go home, and leave us in peace. Since
you're a friend of his, Peregrin, you might tell him so."

!~|xvii|~!

As Lady Iris had requested, there was no talk of poison over lunch.
On this point, all the ladies were in perfect accord. Instead, there
was a polite unraveling of genealogical connections, as Althaea
traced the relationships of Frodo and Merry to Diamanta, and
subsequently the North-Took family. The presence of detectives in her
father's house was made more palatable by the fact that at least
three of them were akin to her. Sam, the North-Took ladies ignored,
but Iris went out of her way to draw him into conversation. Frodo
guessed that she was probably used to being snubbed by them herself,
and therefore sympathetic to someone else in a similar position.
There was no discussion of _her_ family background at the table.

Near the end of luncheon, Florisel Pumble-Took arrived at the Thain's
Hall with the five young hobbits, some of whom were in sulky moods.
But Florisel was smiling. "You see, I've brought all your wayward
children home," he announced once he had been greeted by Brabantius
and kissed Iris, "plus one extra. They've told me such alarming
tales, and you must tell me more. I am most eager to meet the famous
detective I've heard so much about."

Frodo and the rest of his companions were introduced, but there were
too many hobbits all around, with different views of the case, for
any one of them to give Florisel a clear account. Iris took him by
the arm, and the two retreated for a private conversation in her
boudoir. The group began to break up. Brabantius returned to his
study. Alamaric and Diantha went home. The ladies and gentlemen of
the Thain's Hall went to the parlor for a conference of their own.
Sam went out to find Mr. Tubrose, the Thain's gardener, and Merry
went in search of Pippin and Isigo, who had disappeared almost as
soon as they'd returned to the Hall.

Frodo intended to speak to Brabantius about the conclusions he'd
drawn since their conversation that morning, but when he approached
the Thain's study, he found that Brabantius already had a visitor.
Althaea had not joined her family in the parlor, but had followed her
father.

"There is another reason I came today, Father. I wanted to talk to
you about something very important." She stood with her back to the
slightly open study door and did not see nor hear Frodo. It wasn't
gentlemanly to eavesdrop, but Frodo didn't move from the spot. He had
learned that this was sometimes the only way a good investigator
could find out important things. "It's about Vida's marriage," said
Althaea. "We are hoping to see her and Odonto wed this autumn."

"Vida doesn't need my permission to marry," Brabantius answered.
"Odonto is a fine lad, and if you and Valumus have given your
approval, I've no reason to protest. I'll throw the young couple a
wedding party, and give them a good present, just as I did when your
two elder girls were wed."

"Will you also settle a dowry upon her?"

"That's the duty of a father, my dear, not a grandfather. Won't that
husband of yours put up a little for his own daughter, or can't he?"

"You know he can't, Father! There's nothing left to give her.
Valumus-"

"Yes, I know all about Valumus." The Thain sighed. "I'm afraid you
made your own bed there, Althaea, and will have to abide in it. I had
my doubts about Valumus from the beginning, but you were so insistent
that he was the only one for you. I hoped that a strong-willed girl
as you were would bring out the best in him. Instead, he's sunk
himself and tried to drag you down with him. It pains me to see it,
my dear. Whenever you've come to me, begging for money, I've helped
you out of your troubles. I've been generous time and again, and that
husband of yours only sinks farther and expects more from me. There
must be an end to it."

"Father-!"

"No, Althaea. I'll settle something upon Vida for her marriage. But
nothing more for yours. I've done all I can."

Althaea turned and rushed out of the study; Frodo shrank back against
the curving wall of the passage until she had passed, then waited
another minute before he knocked on the open door.

"Come in, Mr. Baggins," the Thain spoke from within.

Frodo peeked in through the doorway. "You knew I was there?"

"I became aware that _someone_ was waiting in the passage, but wasn't
certain whom it might be. Tulipant would have made his presence known
with a discreet cough. I guessed it might be you, or one of your
companions. You've been all around today, I understand, making the
acquaintance of my family and servants, asking them questions."

"You don't mind?"

"Of course not. That was precisely what I asked you to do."

"No," said Frodo, "I meant my eavesdropping on your conversation with
your daughter."

Brabantius shook his head. "If I had objected, I wouldn't have spoken
as I did. I imagine it's part of your work, to pry into private
matters. I hope you will be discreet about anything you overhear that
has no bearing upon your investigation."

"We can be extremely discreet about what we find, even when it bears
upon our investigation." Frodo ventured, "Do you think your
daughter's- ah- difficulties have any bearing?"

"You mean, do I think Althaea's poisoned me to obtain money I won't
give her freely? No, I can't believe that's so. I can't believe it of
any of my family, and yet it must be one of them. She loves that
worthless husband of hers. _Him_, I can believe anything of." The
Thain looked as if the mere mention of his son-in-law made a sour
taste in his mouth. "I would be happier if she left him to his fate
and returned to live with us here. Perhaps she will once Vida is
married and gone away to a home of her own." Those bright eyes met
Frodo's suddenly. "You _do_ think it's one of the family, don't you?"

"I'm certain it's someone in this house, or someone who is able to
come in and go about freely," Frodo answered. 

Brabantius nodded solemnly. "Someone I have trusted."

"Yes, sir."

After a long silence, Brabantius sighed. "Then I've done what is best
by setting you among them. I had my qualms about it when you and your
friends first arrived, but I see now it must be done. Go, and pry as
you will. Ask my children whatever questions you like. You're a
clever young hobbit, Mr. Baggins. I'm certain you can bring the truth
to light."

"They are reluctant to tell me anything," Frodo informed him.

"Undoubtedly they are, but I have confidence in your ability to
handle them. I was most impressed with how you spoke to Vidalia when
she challenged your work." The Thain gave Frodo a small smile. "My
hearing is still good, you see, and you are not the only one who has
found some advantage in listening to other people's conversations."

!~|xviii|~!

When he left the Thain, Frodo went to his room to change before tea-
time; he had somehow got a splash of the wine on his waistcoat. Sam,
who had come in from the garden, went with him.

"Did you find the gardener?" Frodo asked his friend once they were
alone. 

Sam nodded. "Mr. Tubrose told me there wasn't anything else in the
gardens that was poisonous--leastwise, nothing that'd take a hobbit
the way laburnum does."

"That must be it then. I'd like to know precisely where the poison
came from--that might tell us who gathered and brewed it--but the
trees in the garden are enough." Frodo removed the jacket and
waistcoat he had been wearing and gave the latter to Sam. While Sam
clucked despairingly over the wine stain and wondered if it would
ever come out, Frodo opened the wardrobe to pick out a clean
waistcoat for the afternoon. "It's probably your fault," he said to
Sam's fussings. "I think the wine must have spilled on me when you
grabbed the glass from my hand in the pantry." He turned to lay out
his chosen waistcoat on the bed, and smiled at Sam. "That was very
brave of you, drinking that wine when we knew it was poisoned."

"I didn't _drink_ it," Sam answered diffidently. "Even if I did
swallow that little bit, it wouldn't've done me much harm. Glasses of
it didn't kill his Thainship, so a sip of it couldn't kill me.
Besides, I heard tell as laburnum's not so bad as you'd think."

"But you told us this morning that it kills sheep and cows. It did
kill a dog!"

"Yes, but hobbits is hardier," Sam replied. "I reckon they didn't put
in enough. Even an old hobbit like his Thainship'd have to drink the
whole bottle o' wine at once to get sick enough to die."

Frodo rolled up his shirt sleeves and poured some water into his
wash-basin. "But you wouldn't let me even have taste a few drops," he
rejoined, still smiling. 

"Well, you can't be too careful, `specially where your health is
concerned. You're better now'n you were, Frodo, but you're still not
strong."

"Yes, I know." Frodo splashed his face with cool water.

"And I've got to look out for you."

"I know that too. You always do." Frodo looked up, face dripping, and
found that Sam had taken the towel from its hook on the side of the
washstand and was ready to hand him; he took it and blotted his face
dry. "Thank you, dear Sam." As he lowered the towel, Sam put an arm
around his waist and brought him closer, so that his curled forearms
rested on Sam's chest. They kissed.

There was a tap on the door and Pippin stuck his head into the room.
"Sorry--I'm not interrupting anything, am I? I heard your voices as I
was passing, and thought I'd better tell you what happened today."

"It's all right," Frodo said, and stepped away from Sam's arms. His
budding romantic plans were regretfully set aside; he was here, after
all, to conduct an investigation and he wanted to hear what his
cousin had to say. They hadn't had a chance to talk together
privately since the morning. "What happened?" he asked as he picked
up his fresh waistcoat to put it on.

Pippin plomped down on the bed. "Wait `til you hear!" He told Frodo
of his visit to the laburnum tree at the empty cottage, and gave him
the seed-pods he still had in his jacket pocket--Frodo put them on
top of the chest-of-drawers, next to the pods Sam had collected--of
how he had met Florisel at the tavern and the fight that had nearly
occurred. He was repeating Hilbarus's suggestion that Frodo withdraw
from the investigation, when Merry came past the open door on his way
and saw him.

"I've been looking all over for you, Pip," said Merry. "Have you been
here all along?"

"No, I just came in a minute ago," Pippin answered. "I was telling
Sam and Frodo-"

"About all that time you spent hanging about with Diantha and Isigo?"

"Yes, that's right."

"What about you, Merry?" Frodo asked. He could see that Merry was
spoiling for a quarrel over Pippin's defection and wanted to stop it
before he could get started. "You were talking with Di's father for
quite a long while this morning."

"I meant to tell you earlier, Frodo: He's invited us all to come and
have lunch with him tomorrow next door. He can tell you a lot."

"What did he tell _you_?" Frodo asked. 

"You must've picked up something," Pippin said cheerfully, "after all
that time you spent hanging about with him."

Merry gave him a withering glance and answered Frodo's question, "For
one thing, they're all badly in need of money. The Thain holds tight
to the purse strings." 

"That must be what all those quarrels no one will tell me about were
over," said Frodo.

"It seems so to me too. Frodo, listen: Alamaric told me that the
three of them--Alhasrus, Althaea, and Alamargo--came into part of
their inheritance when their mother died, and the Thain settled a big
amount on each of them when they married, but they have no regular
income. No property of their own. Alhasrus is the best off, since
Aunt Di has some income from the farmlands around Tuckborough
Grandfather settled on her, and their son Ulfidius made a good match
to a rich girl."

"That Persifilla," said Sam, remembering what Tilsey had said about
her.

"The others are scrambling to do as well for their children," Merry
went on. "Althaea has two other daughters, older than Vidalia, who've
been married off successfully and moved far away, and she has hopes
of seeing Vidalia married off soon to some Took cousin. Alamargo and
Aspid are trying to do as well for their children. They had some
hopes for their older son, Hilbarus, but it didn't come off in the
end."

"That would explain why they're so eager to see Pippin matched to
Diamond," Frodo mused. Pippin would be the South-Thain one day, and
one of the wealthiest hobbits in the Shire.

"I wondered why they were trying so hard, even now that they've met
me," Pippin said. 

Merry nodded, but he wasn't concerned with Diamond. 

"What about Aspid?" asked Frodo. "Did Alamaric say if she has any
money?"

"No. She's from a respectable Cleeve family, but not a wealthy one.
You see how her sister's dependent on the Tooks as a poor relation."

"And Althaea's husband?" asked Frodo, thinking of the conversation he
had overheard between the Thain and his daughter. He'd seen that
Brabantius disliked his son-in-law, but didn't know exactly why.

"According to Alamaric, he's a spendthift and wastrel," Merry
answered. "They say he drinks to excess."

Pippin laughed. "Who doesn't?" 

"No, Pip, even more than _that_. He doesn't just go off to the pub
and have a half-pint too many. He sits alone