CHAPTER 37
Sir Robert Blake replaced the telephone receiver on its cradle. The black Bakelite instrument was hot from having been in contact with his hand for so long. Following his meeting with Ryan the previous day, Sir Robert had set the wheels in motion that he hoped would finally lead to a solution to the problem of the plague in Olney. First, he’d spoken to the Minister of Health, who’d professed himself appalled at Ryan’s scrupulous and slavish adherence to orders he’d received so many years earlier. The Minister, Andrew Dodson had immediately ordered Ryan’s removal from his position at the Health Ministry, though in order to maintain a level of normality and not arouse suspicion Ryan would be allowed to resign on ‘health grounds’ and leave his office at the end of the month. For a
