IC olonel Melchett was facing a much annoyed hotel manager. With him was Superintendent1 Harper of the GlenshirePolice and the inevitable2 Inspector3 Slack—the latter rather disgruntled at the Chief Constable’s wilful4 usurpation5 ofthe case.
Superintendent Harper was inclined to be soothing6 with the almost tearful Mr. Prestcott—Colonel Melchett tendedtowards a blunt brutality7.
“No good crying over spilt milk,” he said sharply. “The girl’s dead—strangled. You’re lucky that she wasn’tstrangled in your hotel. This puts the inquiry8 in a different county and lets your establishment down extremely lightly.
But certain inquiries9 have got to be made, and the sooner we get on with it the better. You can trust us to be discreetand tactful. So I suggest you cut the cackle and come to the horses. Just what exactly do you know about the girl?”
“I knew nothing of her—nothing at all. Josie brought her here.”
“Josie’s been here some time?”
“Two years—no, three.”
“And you like her?”
“Yes, Josie’s a good girl—a nice girl. Competent. She gets on with people, and smoothes over differences—bridge,you know, is a touchy10 sort of game—” Colonel Melchett nodded feelingly. His wife was a keen but an extremely badbridge player. Mr. Prestcott went on: “Josie was very good at calming down unpleasantnesses. She could handlepeople well—sort of bright and firm, if you know what I mean.”
Again Melchett nodded. He knew now what it was Miss Josephine Turner had reminded him of. In spite of themakeup and the smart turnout there was a distinct touch of the nursery governess about her.
“I depend upon her,” went on Mr. Prestcott. His manner became aggrieved12. “What does she want to go playingabout on slippery rocks in that damn’ fool way? We’ve got a nice beach here. Why couldn’t she bathe from that?
Slipping and falling and breaking her ankle. It wasn’t fair on me! I pay her to dance and play bridge and keep peoplehappy and amused—not to go bathing off rocks and breaking her ankle. Dancers ought to be careful of their ankles—not take risks. I was very annoyed about it. It wasn’t fair to the hotel.”
Melchett cut the recital13 short.
“And then she suggested this girl—her cousin—coming down?”
Prestcott assented14 grudgingly15.
“That’s right. It sounded quite a good idea. Mind you, I wasn’t going to pay anything extra. The girl could have herkeep; but as for salary, that would have to be fixed16 up between her and Josie. That’s the way it was arranged. I didn’tknow anything about the girl.”
“But she turned out all right?”
“Oh yes, there wasn’t anything wrong with her—not to look at, anyway. She was very young, of course—rathercheap in style, perhaps, for a place of this kind, but nice manners—quiet and wellbehaved. Danced well. People likedher.”
“Pretty?”
It had been a question hard to answer from a view of the blue swollen17 face.
Mr. Prestcott considered.
“Fair to middling. Bit weaselly, if you know what I mean. Wouldn’t have been much without makeup11. As it wasshe managed to look quite attractive.”
“Many young men hanging about after her?”
“I know what you’re trying to get at, sir.” Mr. Prestcott became excited. “I never saw anything. Nothing special.
One or two of the boys hung around a bit—but all in the day’s work, so to speak. Nothing in the strangling line, I’dsay. She got on well with the older people, too—had a kind of prattling18 way with her—seemed quite a kid, if youknow what I mean. It amused them.”
Superintendent Harper said in a deep melancholy19 voice:
“Mr. Jefferson, for instance?”
The manager agreed.
“Yes, Mr. Jefferson was the one I had in mind. She used to sit with him and his family a lot. He used to take her outfor drives sometimes. Mr. Jefferson’s very fond of young people and very good to them. I don’t want to have anymisunderstanding. Mr. Jefferson’s a cripple; he can’t get about much—only where his wheelchair will take him. Buthe’s always keen on seeing young people enjoy themselves—watches the tennis and the bathing and all that—andgives parties for young people here. He likes youth—and there’s nothing bitter about him as there well might be. Avery popular gentleman and, I’d say, a very fine character.”
Melchett asked:
“And he took an interest in Ruby20 Keene?”
“Her talk amused him, I think.”
“Did his family share his liking21 for her?”
“They were always very pleasant to her.”
Harper said:
“And it was he who reported the fact of her being missing to the police?”
He contrived22 to put into the word a significance and a reproach to which the manager instantly responded.
“Put yourself in my place, Mr. Harper. I didn’t dream for a minute anything was wrong. Mr. Jefferson came alongto my office, storming, and all worked up. The girl hadn’t slept in her room. She hadn’t appeared in her dance lastnight. She must have gone for a drive and had an accident, perhaps. The police must be informed at once! Inquiriesmade! In a state, he was, and quite high-handed. He rang up the police station then and there.”
“Without consulting Miss Turner?”
“Josie didn’t like it much. I could see that. She was very annoyed about the whole thing—annoyed with Ruby, Imean. But what could she say?”
“I think,” said Melchett, “we’d better see Mr. Jefferson. Eh, Harper?”
Superintendent Harper agreed.
II
Mr. Prestcott went up with them to Conway Jefferson’s suite24. It was on the first floor, overlooking the sea. Melchettsaid carelessly:
“Does himself pretty well, eh? Rich man?”
“Very well off indeed, I believe. Nothing’s ever stinted25 when he comes here. Best rooms reserved—food usually àla carte, expensive wines—best of everything.”
Melchett nodded.
Mr. Prestcott tapped on the outer door and a woman’s voice said: “Come in.”
The manager entered, the others behind him.
Mr. Prestcott’s manner was apologetic as he spoke26 to the woman who turned her head at their entrance from herseat by the window.
“I am so sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Jefferson, but these gentlemen are—from the police. They are very anxious tohave a word with Mr. Jefferson. Er—Colonel Melchett—Superintendent Harper, Inspector—er—Slack—Mrs.
Jefferson.”
Mrs. Jefferson acknowledged the introduction by bending her head.
A plain woman, was Melchett’s first impression. Then, as a slight smile came to her lips and she spoke, he changedhis opinion. She had a singularly charming and sympathetic voice and her eyes, clear hazel eyes, were beautiful. Shewas quietly but not unbecomingly dressed and was, he judged, about thirty-five years of age.
She said:
“My father-in-law is asleep. He is not strong at all, and this affair has been a terrible shock to him. We had to havethe doctor, and the doctor gave him a sedative27. As soon as he wakes he will, I know, want to see you. In the meantime,perhaps I can help you? Won’t you sit down?”
Mr. Prestcott, anxious to escape, said to Colonel Melchett: “Well—er—if that’s all I can do for you?” andthankfully received permission to depart.
With his closing of the door behind him, the atmosphere took on a mellow28 and more social quality. AdelaideJefferson had the power of creating a restful atmosphere. She was a woman who never seemed to say anythingremarkable but who succeeded in stimulating29 other people to talk and setting them at their ease. She struck now theright note when she said:
“This business has shocked us all very much. We saw quite a lot of the poor girl, you know. It seems quiteunbelievable. My father-in-law is terribly upset. He was very fond of Ruby.”
Colonel Melchett said:
“It was Mr. Jefferson, I understand, who reported her disappearance30 to the police?”
He wanted to see exactly how she would react to that. There was a flicker—just a flicker—of—annoyance?
concern?—he could not say what exactly, but there was something, and it seemed to him she had definitely to braceherself, as though to an unpleasant task, before going on.
She said:
“Yes, that is so. Being an invalid31, he gets easily upset and worried. We tried to persuade him that it was all right,that there was some natural explanation, and that the girl herself would not like the police being notified. He insisted.
Well”—she made a slight gesture—“he was right and we were wrong.”
Melchett asked: “Exactly how well did you know Ruby Keene, Mrs. Jefferson?”
She considered.
“It’s difficult to say. My father-in-law is very fond of young people and likes to have them round him. Ruby was anew type to him—he was amused and interested by her chatter32. She sat with us a good deal in the hotel and my father-in-law took her out for drives in the car.”
Her voice was quite noncommittal. Melchett thought to himself: “She could say more if she chose.”
He said: “Will you tell me what you can of the course of events last night?”
“Certainly, but there is very little that will be useful, I’m afraid. After dinner Ruby came and sat with us in thelounge. She remained even after the dancing had started. We had arranged to play bridge later, but we were waitingfor Mark, that is Mark Gaskell, my brother-in-law—he married Mr. Jefferson’s daughter, you know—who had someimportant letters to write, and also for Josie. She was going to make a fourth with us.”
“Did that often happen?”
“Quite frequently. She’s a first-class player, of course, and very nice. My father-in-law is a keen bridge player andwhenever possible liked to get hold of Josie to make the fourth instead of an outsider. Naturally, as she has to arrangethe fours, she can’t always play with us, but she does whenever she can, and as”—her eyes smiled a little—“myfather-in-law spends a lot of money in the hotel, the management are quite pleased for Josie to favour us.”
Melchett asked:
“You like Josie?”
“Yes, I do. She’s always good-humoured and cheerful, works hard and seems to enjoy her job. She’s shrewd,though not well educated, and—well—never pretends about anything. She’s natural and unaffected.”
“Please go on, Mrs. Jefferson.”
“As I say, Josie had to get her bridge fours arranged and Mark was writing, so Ruby sat and talked with us a littlelonger than usual. Then Josie came along, and Ruby went off to do her first solo dance with Raymond—he’s the danceand tennis professional. She came back to us afterwards just as Mark joined us. Then she went off to dance with ayoung man and we four started our bridge.”
She stopped, and made a slight insignificant33 gesture of helplessness.
“And that’s all I know! I just caught a glimpse of her once dancing, but bridge is an absorbing game and I hardlyglanced through the glass partition at the ballroom34. Then, at midnight, Raymond came along to Josie very upset andasked where Ruby was. Josie, naturally, tried to shut him up but—”
Superintendent Harper interrupted. He said in his quiet voice: “Why ‘naturally,’ Mrs. Jefferson?”
“Well”—she hesitated, looked, Melchett thought, a little put out—“Josie didn’t want the girl’s absence made toomuch of. She considered herself responsible for her in a way. She said Ruby was probably up in her bedroom, said thegirl had talked about having a headache earlier—I don’t think that was true, by the way; Josie just said it by way ofexcuse. Raymond went off and telephoned up to Ruby’s room, but apparently35 there was no answer, and he came backin rather a state—temperamental, you know. Josie went off with him and tried to soothe36 him down, and in the end shedanced with him instead of Ruby. Rather plucky37 of her, because you could see afterwards it had hurt her ankle. Shecame back to us when the dance was over and tried to calm down Mr. Jefferson. He had got worked up by then. Wepersuaded him in the end to go to bed, told him Ruby had probably gone for a spin in a car and that they’d had apuncture. He went to bed worried, and this morning he began to agitate38 at once.” She paused. “The rest you know.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Jefferson. Now I’m going to ask you if you’ve any idea who could have done this thing.”
She said immediately: “No idea whatever. I’m afraid I can’t help you in the slightest.”
He pressed her. “The girl never said anything? Nothing about jealousy39? About some man she was afraid of? Orintimate with?”
Adelaide Jefferson shook her head to each query40.
There seemed nothing more that she could tell them.
The Superintendent suggested that they should interview young George Bartlett and return to see Mr. Jeffersonlater. Colonel Melchett agreed, and the three men went out, Mrs. Jefferson promising41 to send word as soon as Mr.
Jefferson was awake.
“Nice woman,” said the Colonel, as they closed the door behind them.
“A very nice lady indeed,” said Superintendent Harper.
III
George Bartlett was a thin, lanky42 youth with a prominent Adam’s apple and an immense difficulty in saying what hemeant. He was in such a state of dither that it was hard to get a calm statement from him.
“I say, it is awful, isn’t it? Sort of thing one reads about in the Sunday papers—but one doesn’t feel it reallyhappens, don’t you know?”
“Unfortunately there is no doubt about it, Mr. Bartlett,” said the Superintendent.
“No, no, of course not. But it seems so rum somehow. And miles from here and everything—in some countryhouse, wasn’t it? Awfully43 county and all that. Created a bit of a stir in the neighbourhood—what?”
Colonel Melchett took charge.
“How well did you know the dead girl, Mr. Bartlett?”
George Bartlett looked alarmed.
“Oh, n-n-n-ot well at all, s-s-sir. No, hardly at all—if you know what I mean. Danced with her once or twice—passed the time of day—bit of tennis—you know.”
“You were, I think, the last person to see her alive last night?”
“I suppose I was—doesn’t it sound awful? I mean, she was perfectly44 all right when I saw her—absolutely.”
“What time was that, Mr. Bartlett?”
“Well, you know, I never know about time—wasn’t very late, if you know what I mean.”
“You danced with her?”
“Yes—as a matter of fact—well, yes, I did. Early on in the evening, though. Tell you what, it was just after herexhibition dance with the pro23 fellow. Must have been ten, half-past, eleven, I don’t know.”
“Never mind the time. We can fix that. Please tell us exactly what happened.”
“Well, we danced, don’t you know. Not that I’m much of a dancer.”
“How you dance is not really relevant, Mr. Bartlett.”
George Bartlett cast an alarmed eye on the Colonel and stammered45:
“No—er—n-n-n-o, I suppose it isn’t. Well, as I say, we danced, round and round, and I talked, but Ruby didn’t sayvery much and she yawned a bit. As I say, I don’t dance awfully well, and so girls—well—inclined to give it a miss, ifyou know what I mean. She said she had a headache—I know where I get off, so I said righty ho, and that was that.”
“What was the last you saw of her?”
“She went off upstairs.”
“She said nothing about meeting anyone? Or going for a drive? Or—or—having a date?” The Colonel used thecolloquial expression with a slight effort.
Bartlett shook his head.
“Not to me.” He looked rather mournful. “Just gave me the push.”
“What was her manner? Did she seem anxious, abstracted, anything on her mind?”
George Bartlett considered. Then he shook his head.
“Seemed a bit bored. Yawned, as I said. Nothing more.”
Colonel Melchett said:
“And what did you do, Mr. Bartlett?”
“Eh?”
“What did you do when Ruby Keene left you?”
George Bartlett gaped46 at him.
“Let’s see now—what did I do?”
“We’re waiting for you to tell us.”
“Yes, yes—of course. Jolly difficult, remembering things, what? Let me see. Shouldn’t be surprised if I went intothe bar and had a drink.”
“Did you go into the bar and have a drink?”
“That’s just it. I did have a drink. Don’t think it was just then. Have an idea I wandered out, don’t you know? Bit ofair. Rather stuffy47 for September. Very nice outside. Yes, that’s it. I strolled around a bit, then I came in and had a drinkand then I strolled back to the ballroom. Wasn’t much doing. Noticed what’s-her-name—Josie—was dancing again.
With the tennis fellow. She’d been on the sick list—twisted ankle or something.”
“That fixes the time of your return at midnight. Do you intend us to understand that you spent over an hour walkingabout outside?”
“Well, I had a drink, you know. I was—well, I was thinking of things.”
This statement received more credulity than any other.
Colonel Melchett said sharply:
“What were you thinking about?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Things,” said Mr. Bartlett vaguely48.
“You have a car, Mr. Bartlett?”
“Oh, yes, I’ve got a car.”
“Where was it, in the hotel garage?”
“No, it was in the courtyard, as a matter of fact. Thought I might go for a spin, you see.”
“Perhaps you did go for a spin?”
“No—no, I didn’t. Swear I didn’t.”
“You didn’t, for instance, take Miss Keene for a spin?”
“Oh, I say. Look here, what are you getting at? I didn’t—I swear I didn’t. Really, now.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bartlett, I don’t think there is anything more at present. At present,” repeated Colonel Melchettwith a good deal of emphasis on the words.
They left Mr. Bartlett looking after them with a ludicrous expression of alarm on his unintellectual face.
“Brainless young ass,” said Colonel Melchett. “Or isn’t he?”
Superintendent Harper shook his head.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” he said.
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1
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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usurpation
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| n.篡位；霸占 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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8
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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touchy
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| adj.易怒的；棘手的 | |
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makeup
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| n.组织；性格；化装品 | |
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aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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grudgingly
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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prattling
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| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的现在分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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stinted
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| v.限制，节省（stint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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sedative
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| adj.使安静的，使镇静的；n. 镇静剂，能使安静的东西 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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stimulating
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| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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ballroom
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| n.舞厅 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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agitate
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| vi.(for,against)煽动，鼓动；vt.搅动 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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lanky
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| adj.瘦长的 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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