Lord Lister No. 0126: Het politieraadsel

The story opens on the brooding silhouette of Bartram‑Haugh, an ancient stone castle perched on a hill in Derbyshire, its walls choked by tangled vines like a living hedge. As the purple‑tinged sunset drains over the craggy outcrops, the last solitary heir of the Derbyshire line summons his faithful servant Ralp, demanding a final, defiant act: to pass the family sword and become a knight before his own death. Ralp accepts, receives the golden‑hilted blade, and is solemnly knighted on the cold stone floor, inheriting a fortress that has watched centuries of feuds and festivities.

With the old lord gone, Ralp now holds the key to the estate, but his son—a restless, ambitious youth—ventures to the towns, brandishing papers that claim the castle as his inheritance. His reckless pursuit of wealth and status threatens to unbalance the fragile peace of the ancient stronghold, setting the stage for a puzzling police investigation that will unravel hidden motives and long‑buried secrets.