My dozen students watched as I demonstrated the gentle art of carving up a human corpse. Charles would have been proud of me as I sliced, diced, eviscerated and removed, all the while explaining what I was doing to the young men. For one crazy moment, I wished I had invited Lady Clarinda and Evelyn to view the spectacle. My Ladyship would have revelled in every second, I knew, while it would be sweet revenge for Evelyn to witness me emasculating her lover.
“What happened to his head?” One eager fellow asked.
“He lost it, I fear, Mr Edgar,” I said.
“How?” This persistent man asked.
“In a mining accident, I believe.” I had the story ready in case of just such a contingency. “That is why we have the body here, as a headless man isn’t much use down the pit.” I waited for the obligatory lau
