Mary Aldin was lying on the drawing-room sofa. Her head ached and her whole body felt worn out.
The inquest had taken place the day before and, after formal evidence of identification, had been adjourned1 for a week.
Lady Tressilian's funeral was to take place on the morrow. Audrey and Kay had gone into Saltington in the car to get some black clothes. Ted2 Latimer had gone with them. Nevile and Thomas Royde had gone for a walk, so, except for the servants, Mary was alone in the house.
Superintendent3 Battle and Inspector4 Leach5 had been absent to-day, and that, too, was a relief. It seemed to Mary that with their absence a shadow had been lifted. They had been polite, quite pleasant, in fact, but the ceaseless questions, that quiet, deliberate probing and sifting6 of every fact, was the sort of thing that wore hardly on the nerves. By now that wooden-faced Superintendent must have learned of every incident, every word, every gesture, even, of the past ten days.
Now, with their going, there was peace. Mary let herself relax. She would forget everything - everything. Just lie back and rest.
"Excuse me, Madam -"
It was Hurstall in the doorway7, looking apologetic.
"A gentleman wishes to see you. I have put him in the study."Mary looked at him in astonishment8 and some annoyance9.
"Who is it?"
"He gave his name as Mr. MacWhirter, Miss.""I've never heard of him."
"No, Miss."
"He must be a reporter. You shouldn't have let him in, Hurstall."Hurstall coughed.
"I don't think he is a reporter, Miss. I think he is a friend of Miss Audrey's.""Oh, that's different."
Smoothing her hair, Mary went wearily across the hall and into the small study. She was, somehow, a little surprised as the tall man standing10 by the window turned. He did not look in the least like a friend of Audrey's.
However, she said pleasantly: "I'm sorry Mrs. Strange is out. You wanted to see her."He looked at her in a thoughtful, considering way.
"You'll be Miss Aldin?" be said.
"Yes."
"I dare say you can help me just as well. I want to find some rope.""Rope?" said Mary in lively amazement11.
"Yes, rope. Where would you be likely to keep a piece of rope?"Afterwards Mary considered that she had been half-hypnotised. If this strange man had volunteered any explanation she might have resisted. But Andrew MacWhirter, unable to think of a plausible12 explanation, decided13, very wisely, to do without one. He just stated quite simply what he wanted. She found herself, semi-dazed, leading MacWhirter in search of rope.
"What kind of rope?" she had asked.
And he had replied: "Any rope will do."
She said doubtfully: "Perhaps in the potting shed -""Shall we go there?"
She led the way. There was twine14 and an odd bit of cord, but MacWhirter shook his head.
He wanted rope - a good-sized coil of rope. "There's the box-room," said Mary hesitatingly. "Ay, that might be the place."They went indoors and upstairs. Mary threw open the box-room door. MacWhirter stood in the doorway looking in. He gave a curious sigh of contentment.
"There it is," he said.
There was a big coil of rope lying on a chest just inside the door in company with old fishing tackle and some moth-eaten cushions. He laid a hand on her arm and impelled15 Mary gently forward until they stood looking down on the rope. He touched it and said: "I'd like you to charge your memory with this. Miss Aldin. You'll notice that everything round about is covered with dust. There's no dust on this rope. Just feel it."She said: "It feels slightly damp," in a surprised tone.
"Just so."
He turned to go out again.
"But the rope? I thought you wanted it?" said Mary in surprise.
MacWhirter smiled.
"I just wanted to know it was there. That's all. Perhaps you wouldn't mind locking this door. Miss Aldin - and taking the key out? Yes. I'd be obliged if you'd hand the key to Superintendent Battle or Inspector Leach. It would be best in their keeping."As they went downstairs, Mary made an effort to rally herself.
She protested as they reached the main hall: "But really, I don't understand."MacWhirter said firmly: "There's no need for you to understand." He took her hand and shook it heartily16. "I'm very much obliged to you for your co-operation."Whereupon he went straight out of the front door. Mary wondered if she had been dreaming.
Nevile and Thomas came in presently and the car arrived back shortly afterwards and Mary Aldin found herself envying Kay and Ted for being able to look quite cheerful. They were laughing and joking together. After all, why not? she thought. Camilla Tressilian had been nothing to Kay. All this tragic17 business was very hard on a bright young creature.
They had just finished lunch when the police came. There was something scared in Hurstall's voice as he announced that Superintendent Battle and Inspector Leach were in the drawing-room.
Superintendent Battle's face was quite genial18 as he greeted them.
"Hope I haven't disturbed you all," he said apologetically. "But there are one or two things I'd like to know about. This glove, for instance, who does it belong to?"He held it out, a small yellow chamois leather glove.
He addressed Audrey.
"Is this yours, Mrs. Strange?"
She shook her head.
"No - no, it isn't mine."
"Miss Aldin?"
"I don't think so. I have none of that colour.""May I see?" Kay held out her hand. "No."Kay tried, but the glove was too small.
"Miss Aldin?"
Mary tried in her turn.
"It's too small for you also," said Battle. He turned back to Audrey. "I think you'll find it fits you, all right. Your hand is smaller than either of the other ladies'."Audrey took it from him and slipped it on over her right hand.
Nevile Strange said sharply: "She's already told you, Battle, that it isn't her glove.""Ah, well," said Battle, "perhaps she made a mistake. Or forgot." Audrey said: "It may be mine - gloves are so alike, aren't they?"Battle said: "At any rate, it was found outside your window, Mrs. Strange, pushed down into the ivy19 - with its fellow."There was a pause. Audrey opened her mouth to speak, then closed it up again. Her eyes fell before the Superintendent's steady gaze.
Nevile sprang forward. "Look here. Superintendent -""Perhaps we might have a word with you, Mr. Strange, privately20?" Battle said gravely.
"Certainly, Superintendent. Come into the library."He led the way and the two police officers followed him.
As soon as the door had closed Nevile said sharply: "What's this ridiculous story about gloves outside my wife's window?"Battle said quietly: "Mr. Strange, we've found some very curious things in this house."Nevile frowned.
"Curious? What do you mean by curious?"
"I'll show you."
In obedience21 to a nod. Leach left the room and came back holding a very strange implement22.
Battle said: "This consists, as you see, sir, of a steel ball taken from a Victorian fender - a heavy steel ball. Then the head has been sawn off a tennis racquet and the ball has been screwed into the handle of the racquet."He paused. "I think there can be no doubt that this is what was used to kill Lady Tressilian.""Horrible!" said Nevile with a shudder23. "But where did you find this - this nightmare?""The ball had been cleaned and put back on the fender. The murderer had, however, neglected to clean the screw. We found a trace of blood on that. In the same way the handle and the head of the racquet were joined together again by means of adhesive24 surgical25 plaster. It was then thrown carelessly back into the cupboard under the stairs, where it would probably have remained quite unnoticed amongst so many others if we hadn't happened to be looking for something of that kind.""Smart of you, Superintendent." "Just a matter of routine.""No fingerprints26, I suppose?"
"That racquet, which belongs, by its weight, I should say, to Mrs. Kay Strange, has been handled by her and also by you, and both your prints are on it. But it also shows unmistakable signs that someone wearing gloves handled it after you did. There was just one other fingerprint27 - left this time in inadvertence, I think. That was on the surgical strapping28 that had been applied29 to bind30 the racquet together again. I'm not going for the moment to say whose print that was. I've got some other points to mention first."Battle paused, then he said: "I want you to prepare yourself for a shock, Mr. Strange. And first I want to ask you something. Are you quite sure that it was your own idea to have this meeting here and that it was not actually suggested to you by Mrs. Audrey Strange?""Audrey did nothing of the sort. Audrey -"The door opened and Thomas Royde came in.
"Sorry to butt31 in," he said, "but I thought I'd like to be in on this."Nevile turned a harassed32 face towards him.
"Do you mind, old fellow? This is all rather private.""I'm afraid I don't care about that. You see, I heard a name outside." He paused. "Audrey's name.""And what the hell has Audrey's name got to do with you?" demanded Nevile, his temper rising.
"Well, what has it to do with you, if it comes to that? I haven't said anything definite to Audrey, but I came here meaning to ask her to marry me, and I think she knows it. What's more, I mean to marry her."Superintendent Battle coughed. Nevile turned to him with a start. "Sorry, Superintendent. This interruption -"Battle said: "It doesn't matter to me, Mr. Strange. I've got one more question to ask you. That dark blue coat you wore at dinner the night of the murder, it's got fair hairs inside the collar and on the shoulders. Do you know how they got there?""I suppose they're my hairs."
"Oh, no, they're not yours, sir. They're a lady's hairs, and there's a red hair on the sleeve.""I suppose that's my wife's - Kay's. The others, you are suggesting, are Audrey's? Very likely they are. I caught my cuff33 button in her hair one night outside on the terrace. I remember.""In that case," murmured Leach, "the fair hair would be on the cuff." "What the devil are you suggesting?" cried Nevile.
"There's a trace of powder, too, inside the coat collar," said Battle. "Primavera Naturelle No. 1 - a very pleasant-scented powder and expensive - but it's no good telling me that you use it, Mr. Strange, because I shan't believe you. And Mrs. Kay Strange uses Orchid34 Sun Kiss. Mrs. Audrey Strange does use Primavera Naturelle No. 1.""What are you suggesting?" repeated Nevile. Battle leaned forward.
"I'm suggesting that - on some occasion, Mrs. Audrey Strange wore that coat. It's the only reasonable way the hair and the powder could get where it did. Then you've seen that glove I produced just now? It's her glove, all right. That was the right hand, here's the left." He drew it out of his pocket and put it down on the table. It was crumpled35 and stained with rusty36 brown patches.
Nevile said with a note of fear in his voice: "What's that on it?""Blood, Mr. Strange," said Battle firmly. "And you'll note this, it's the left hand. Now, Mrs. Audrey Strange is left-handed. I noted37 that first thing when I saw her sitting with her coffee cup in her right hand and her cigarette in her left at the breakfast table. And the pen tray on her writing-table had been shifted to the left-hand side. It all fits in. The knob from her grate, the gloves outside her window, the hair and powder on the coat. Lady Tressilian was struck on the right temple - but the position of the bed made it impossible for anyone to have stood on the other side of it. It follows that to strike Lady Tressilian a blow with the right hand would be a very awkward thing to do - but it's the natural way to strike for a left-handed person ...""Are you suggesting that Audrey - Audrey would make all these elaborate preparations and strike down an old lady whom she had known for years in order to get her hands on that old lady's money?"Battle shook his head.
"I'm suggesting nothing of the sort. I'm sorry, Mr. Strange, you've got to understand just how things are. This crime, first, last and all the time, was directed against you. Ever since you left her, Audrey Strange has been brooding over the possibilities of revenge. In the end she has become mentally unbalanced. Perhaps she was never mentally very strong. She thought, perhaps, of killing38 you, but that wasn't enough. She thought at last of getting you hanged for murder. She chose an evening when she knew you had quarrelled with Lady Tressilian. She took the coat from your bedroom and wore it when she struck the old lady down, so that it should be bloodstained. She put your niblick on the floor, knowing we would find your fingerprints on it, and smeared39 blood and hair on the head of the club. It was she who instilled40 into your mind the idea of coming here when she was here. And the thing that saved you was the one thing she couldn't count on - the fact that Lady Tressilian rang her bell for Barrett and that Barrett saw you leave the house."Nevile had buried his face in his hands. He said now: "It's not true. It's not true! Audrey's never borne a grudge41 against me. You've got the whole thing wrong. She's the straightest, truest creature - without one thought of evil in her heart.""It's not my business to argue with you, Mr. Strange. I only wanted to prepare you. I shall caution Mrs. Strange and ask her to accompany me. I've got the warrant. You'd better see about getting a solicitor42 for her.""It's preposterous43. Absolutely preposterous.""Love turns to hate more easily than you think, Mr. Strange.""I tell you it's all wrong - preposterous."Thomas Royde broke in. His voice was quiet and pleasant.
"Do stop repeating that it's preposterous, Nevile. Pull yourself together. Don't you see that the only thing that can help Audrey now is for you to give up all your ideas of chivalry44 and come out with the truth?""The truth? You mean -"
"I mean the truth about Audrey and Adrian." Royde turned to the police officers. "You see, Superintendent, you've got the facts wrong. Nevile didn't leave Audrey. She left him. She ran away with my brother, Adrian. Then Adrian was killed in a car accident. Nevile behaved with the utmost chivalry to Audrey. He arranged that she should divorce him and that he would take the blame.""Didn't want her name dragged through the mud," muttered Nevile sulkily. "Didn't know anyone knew.""Adrian wrote out to me just before," explained Thomas briefly45. He went on: "Don't you see, Superintendent, that knocks your motive46 out! Audrey has no cause to hate Nevile. On the contrary, she has every reason to be grateful to him. He's tried to get her to accept an allowance, which she wouldn't do. Naturally, when he wanted her to come and meet Kay she didn't feel she could refuse.""You see," Nevile put in eagerly, - "that cuts out her motive. Thomas is right." Battle's wooden face was immovable.
"Motive's only one thing," he said. "I may have been wrong about that. But facts are another. All the facts show that she's guilty."Nevile said meaningly: "All the facts showed that I was guilty two days ago!" Battle seemed a little taken aback.
"That's true enough. But look here, Mr. Strange, at what you're asking me to believe. You're asking me to believe that there's someone who hates both of you - someone who, if the plot against you failed, had laid a second trail to lead to Audrey Strange. Now, can you think of anyone, Mr. Strange, who hates both you and your former wife?"Nevile's head had dropped into his hands again.
"When you say it like that you make it all sound fantastic!""Because it is fantastic. I've got to go by the facts. If Mrs. Strange has any explanation to offer -""Did I have any explanation?" asked Nevile.
"It's no good, Mr. Strange. I've got to do my duty."Battle got up abruptly47. He and Leach left the room first. Nevile and Royde came close behind them.
They went on across the hall into the drawing-room. There they stopped.
Audrey Strange got up. She walked forward to meet them. She looked straight at Battle, her lips parted in what was very nearly a smile.
She said very softly: "You want me, don't you?" Battle became very official.
"Mrs. Strange, I have a warrant here for your arrest on the charge of murdering Camilla Tressilian on Monday last, September 12th. I must caution you that anything you say will be written down and may be used in evidence at your trial."Audrey gave a sigh. Her small clear-cut face was peaceful and pure as a cameo. "It's almost a relief. I'm glad it's - over!"Nevile sprang forward.
"Audrey - don't say anything - don't speak at all."She smiled at him.
"But why not, Nevile? It's all true - and I'm so tired."Leach drew a deep breath. Well, that was that. Mad as a hatter, of course, but it would save a lot of worry! He wondered what had happened to his uncle. The old boy was looking as though he had seen a ghost. Staring at the poor demented creature as though he couldn't believe his eyes. Oh, well, it had been an interesting case. Leach thought comfortably.
And then, an almost grotesque48 anticlimax49, Hurstall opened the drawing-room door and announced: "Mr. MacWhirter."MacWhirter strode in purposefully. He went straight up to Battle. "Are you the police officer in charge of the Tressilian case?" he asked.
"I am."
"Then I have an important statement to make. I am sorry not to have come forward before, but the importance of something I happened to see on the night of Monday last has only just dawned on me."He gave a quick glance round the room. "If I can speak to you somewhere?"Battle turned to Leach.
"Will you stay here with Mrs. Strange?"
Leach said officially: "Yes, sir."
Then he leant forward and whispered something into the other's ear.
Battle turned to MacWhirter. "Come this way."He led the way into the library.
"Now then, what's all this? My colleague tells me that he's seen you before - last winter?""Quite right," said MacWhirter. "Attempted suicide. That's part of my story." "Go on, Mr. MacWhirter.""Last January I attempted to kill myself by throwing myself off Stark50 Head. This year the fancy took me to revisit the spot. I walked up there on Monday night. I stood there for some time. I looked down at the sea and across to Easterhead Bay and I then looked to my left. That is to say, I looked across towards this house. I could see it quite plainly in the moonlight.""Yes."
"Until to-day I had not realised that that was the night when a murder was committed."He leant forward. "I'll tell you what I saw."
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1
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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leach
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| v.分离，过滤掉；n.过滤；过滤器 | |
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6
sifting
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| n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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adhesive
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| n.粘合剂；adj.可粘着的，粘性的 | |
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surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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fingerprints
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| n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 ) | |
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fingerprint
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| n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹 | |
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28
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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32
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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orchid
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| n.兰花，淡紫色 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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instilled
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| v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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43
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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44
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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45
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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46
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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47
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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48
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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49
anticlimax
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| n.令人扫兴的结局；突降法 | |
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50
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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