Sparkling Cyanide Part 24

"Please, Anthony."

"Look here, Iris, you're in a tight place. But apart from anything else, there's such a thing as truth. You can't play safe and take care of your there's such a thing as truth. You can't play safe and take care of your own skin when it's a question of justice." own skin when it's a question of justice."

"Oh, Anthony, must you be so grand?"

"That," said Anthony, "was a very shrewd blow! But all the same we're going to Kemp! Now!" going to Kemp! Now!"

Unwillingly she came with him out into the hall. Her coat was lying tossed on a chair and he took it and held it out for her to put on. tossed on a chair and he took it and held it out for her to put on.

There was both mutiny and fear in her eyes, but Anthony showed no sign of relenting. He said: sign of relenting. He said: "We'll pick up a taxi at the end of the Square."

As they went towards the hall door the bell was pressed and they heard it ringing in the bas.e.m.e.nt below. heard it ringing in the bas.e.m.e.nt below.

Iris gave an exclamation.

"I forgot. It's Ruth. She was coming here when she left the office to settle about the funeral arrangements. It's to be the day after settle about the funeral arrangements. It's to be the day after tomorrow. I thought we could settle things better while Aunt Lucilla tomorrow. I thought we could settle things better while Aunt Lucilla was out. She does confuse things so." was out. She does confuse things so."

Anthony stepped forward and opened the door, forestalling the parlourmaid who came running up the stairs from below. parlourmaid who came running up the stairs from below.

"It's all right, Evans," said Iris, and the girl went down again.

Ruth was looking tired and rather dishevelled. She was carrying a large-sized attache case. large-sized attache case.

"I'm sorry I'm late, but the tube-was so terribly crowded tonight and then I had to wait for three buses and not a taxi in sight." then I had to wait for three buses and not a taxi in sight."

It was, thought Anthony, unlike the efficient Ruth to apologise. Another sign that George's death had succeeded in shattering that almost sign that George's death had succeeded in shattering that almost inhuman efficiency. inhuman efficiency.

Iris said: "I can't come with you now, Anthony. Ruth and I must settle things." things."

Anthony said firmly: "I'm afraid this is more important... I'm awfully sorry, Miss Lessing, to drag Iris off like this, but it really is important." sorry, Miss Lessing, to drag Iris off like this, but it really is important."

Ruth said quickly: "That's quite all right, Mr Browne. I can arrange everything with Mrs Drake when she comes in." She smiled faintly. "I everything with Mrs Drake when she comes in." She smiled faintly. "I can really manage her quite well, you know." can really manage her quite well, you know."

"I'm sure you could manage anyone, Miss Lessing," said Anthony admiringly. admiringly.

"Perhaps, Iris, if you can tell me any special points?"

"There aren't any. I suggested arranging this together because Aunt Lucilla changes her mind about everything every two minutes, and I Lucilla changes her mind about everything every two minutes, and I thought it would be rather hard on you. You've had so much to do. But I thought it would be rather hard on you. You've had so much to do. But I really don't care what sort of funeral it is! Aunt Lucilla likes funerals, really don't care what sort of funeral it is! Aunt Lucilla likes funerals, but I hate them. You've got to bury people, but I hate making a fuss but I hate them. You've got to bury people, but I hate making a fuss about it. It can't matter to the people themselves. They've got away about it. It can't matter to the people themselves. They've got away from it all. The dead don't come back." from it all. The dead don't come back."

Ruth did not answer, and Iris repeated with a strange defiant insistence: "The dead don't come back!" insistence: "The dead don't come back!"

"Come on," said Anthony, and pulled her out through the open door.

A cruising taxi was coming slowly along the Square. Anthony hailed it and helped Iris in. and helped Iris in.

"Tell me, beautiful," he said, after he had directed the driver to go to Scotland Yard. "Who exactly did you feel was there in the hall when Scotland Yard. "Who exactly did you feel was there in the hall when you found it so necessary to affirm that the dead are dead? Was it you found it so necessary to affirm that the dead are dead? Was it George or Rosemary?" George or Rosemary?"

"n.o.body! n.o.body at all! I just hate funerals, I tell you."

Anthony sighed.

"Definitely," he said, "I must be psychic!"

Chapter 12.

Three men sat at a small round marble-topped table.

Colonel Race and Chief Inspector Kemp were drinking cups of dark brown tea, rich in tannin. Anthony was drinking an English cafe's idea brown tea, rich in tannin. Anthony was drinking an English cafe's idea of a nice cup of coffee. It was not Anthony's idea, but he endured it for of a nice cup of coffee. It was not Anthony's idea, but he endured it for the sake of being admitted on equal terms to the other two men's the sake of being admitted on equal terms to the other two men's conference. Chief Inspector Kemp, having painstakingly verified conference. Chief Inspector Kemp, having painstakingly verified Anthony's credentials, had consented to recognise him as a colleague. Anthony's credentials, had consented to recognise him as a colleague.

"If you ask me," said the Chief Inspector, dropping several lumps of sugar into his black brew and stirring it, "this case will never be sugar into his black brew and stirring it, "this case will never be brought to trial. We'll never get the evidence." brought to trial. We'll never get the evidence."

"You think not?" asked Race.

Kemp shook his head and took an approving sip of his tea.

"The only hope was to get evidence concerning the actual purchasing or handling of cyanide by one of those five. I've drawn a blank or handling of cyanide by one of those five. I've drawn a blank everywhere. It'll be one of those cases where you know who did it, and everywhere. It'll be one of those cases where you know who did it, and can't prove it." can't prove it."

"So you know who did it?" Anthony regarded him with interest. "Well I'm pretty certain in my own mind. Lady Alexandra Farraday." I'm pretty certain in my own mind. Lady Alexandra Farraday."

"So that's your bet," said Race. "Reasons?"

"You shall have 'em. I'd say she's the type that's madly jealous. And autocratic, too. Like that queen in history - Eleanor of Something, that autocratic, too. Like that queen in history - Eleanor of Something, that followed the clue to Fair Rosamund's Bower and offered her the choice followed the clue to Fair Rosamund's Bower and offered her the choice of a dagger or a cup of poison." of a dagger or a cup of poison."

"Only in this case," said Anthony, "she didn't offer Fair Rosemary any choice." choice."

Chief Inspector Kemp went on: "Someone tips Mr Barton off. He becomes suspicious - and I should say his suspicions were pretty becomes suspicious - and I should say his suspicions were pretty definite. He wouldn't have gone so far as actually buying a house in the definite. He wouldn't have gone so far as actually buying a house in the country unless he wanted to keep an eye on the Farradays. He must country unless he wanted to keep an eye on the Farradays. He must have made it pretty plain to her - harping on this party and urging them have made it pretty plain to her - harping on this party and urging them to come to it. She's not the kind to Wait and See. Autocratic again, she to come to it. She's not the kind to Wait and See. Autocratic again, she finished him off! That, you say so far, is all theory and shorthand report finished him off! That, you say so far, is all theory and shorthand report made when I took her statement. If I had, the poor fellow would have made when I took her statement. If I had, the poor fellow would have been in hospital with writer's cramp." been in hospital with writer's cramp."

"Well," said Anthony. "I daresay you're right, Chief Inspector, in saying that the case will never come to trial - but that's a very unsatisfactory that the case will never come to trial - but that's a very unsatisfactory finish - and there's one thing we still don't know - who wrote those finish - and there's one thing we still don't know - who wrote those letters to George Barton telling him his wife was murdered? We letters to George Barton telling him his wife was murdered? We haven't the least idea who that person is." haven't the least idea who that person is."

Race said: "Your suspicions still the same, Browne?"

"Ruth Lessing? Yes, I stick to her as my candidate. You told me that she admitted to you she was in love with George. Rosemary by all she admitted to you she was in love with George. Rosemary by all accounts was pretty poisonous to her. Say she saw suddenly a chance accounts was pretty poisonous to her. Say she saw suddenly a chance of getting rid of Rosemary, and was fairly convinced that with of getting rid of Rosemary, and was fairly convinced that with Rosemary out of the way, she could marry George out of hand." Rosemary out of the way, she could marry George out of hand."

"I grant you all that," said Race. "I'll admit that Ruth Lessing has the calm practical efficiency that can contemplate and carry out murder, calm practical efficiency that can contemplate and carry out murder, and she perhaps lacks that quality of pity which is essentially a and she perhaps lacks that quality of pity which is essentially a product of imagination. Yes, I give you the first murder. But I simply product of imagination. Yes, I give you the first murder. But I simply can't see her committing the second one. I simply cannot see her can't see her committing the second one. I simply cannot see her panicking and poisoning the man she loved and wanted to marry! panicking and poisoning the man she loved and wanted to marry!

Another point that rules her out - why did she hold her tongue when she saw Iris throw the cyanide packet under the table?" she saw Iris throw the cyanide packet under the table?"

"Perhaps she didn't see her do it," suggested Anthony, rather doubtfully. doubtfully.

"I'm fairly sure she did," said Race. "When I was questioning her, I had the impression that she was keeping something back. And Iris Marle the impression that she was keeping something back. And Iris Marle herself thought Ruth Lessing saw her." herself thought Ruth Lessing saw her."

"Come now, colonel," said Kemp. "Let's have your 'spot.' You've got one, I suppose?" one, I suppose?"

Race nodded.

"Out with it. Fair's fair. You've listened to ours - and raised objections."

Race's eyes went thoughtfully from Kemp's face to Anthony and rested there. there.

Anthony's eyebrows rose.

"Don't say you still think I am the villain of the piece?"

Slowly Race shook his head.

"I can imagine no possible reason why you should kill George Barton. I think I know who did kill him - and Rosemary Barton too." think I know who did kill him - and Rosemary Barton too."

"Who is it?"

Race said musingly: "Curious how we have all selected women as suspects. I suspect a woman, too." He paused and said quietly: "I think suspects. I suspect a woman, too." He paused and said quietly: "I think the guilty person is Iris Marle." the guilty person is Iris Marle."

With a crash Anthony pushed his chair back. For a moment his face went dark crimson - then with an effort, he regained command of went dark crimson - then with an effort, he regained command of himself. His voice, when he spoke, had a very slight tremor but was himself. His voice, when he spoke, had a very slight tremor but was deliberately as light and mocking as ever. deliberately as light and mocking as ever.

"By all means let us discuss the possibility," he said. "Why Iris Marle?

And if so, why should she, of her own accord, tell me about dropping the cyanide paper under the table?" the cyanide paper under the table?"

"Because," said Race, "she knew that Ruth Lessing had seen her do it." it."

Anthony considered the reply, his head on one side. Finally he nodded.

"Pa.s.sed," he said. "Go on. Why did you suspect her in the first place?"

"Motive," said Race. "An enormous fortune had been left to Rosemary in which Iris was not to partic.i.p.ate. For all we know she may have in which Iris was not to partic.i.p.ate. For all we know she may have struggled for years with a sense of unfairness. She was aware that if struggled for years with a sense of unfairness. She was aware that if Rosemary died childless, all that money came to her. And Rosemary Rosemary died childless, all that money came to her. And Rosemary was depressed, unhappy, run down after 'flu, just the mood when a was depressed, unhappy, run down after 'flu, just the mood when a verdict of suicide would be accepted without question." verdict of suicide would be accepted without question."

"That's right, make the girl out a monster!" said Anthony.

"Not a monster," said Race. "There is another reason why I suspected her - a farfetched one, it may seem to you - Victor Drake." her - a farfetched one, it may seem to you - Victor Drake."

"Victor Drake?" Anthony stared.

"Bad blood. You see, I didn't listen to Lucilla Drake for nothing. I know all about the Marle family. Victor Drake - not so much weak as all about the Marle family. Victor Drake - not so much weak as positively evil. His mother, feeble in intellect and incapable of positively evil. His mother, feeble in intellect and incapable of concentration. Hector Marle, weak, vicious and a drunkard. concentration. Hector Marle, weak, vicious and a drunkard. Rosemary, emotionally unstable. A family history of weakness, vice Rosemary, emotionally unstable. A family history of weakness, vice and instability. Predisposing causes." and instability. Predisposing causes."

Anthony lit a cigarette. His hands trembled.

"Don't you believe that there may be a sound blossom on a weak or even a bad stock?" even a bad stock?"

"Of course there may. But I am not sure that Iris Marle is a sound blossom." blossom."

"And my word doesn't count," Anthony said slowly, "because I'm in love with her. George showed her those letters, and she got in a funk love with her. George showed her those letters, and she got in a funk and killed him? That's how it goes on, is it?" and killed him? That's how it goes on, is it?"

"Yes. Panic would obtain in her case."

"And how did she get the stuff into George's champagne gla.s.s?"

"That, I confess, I do not know."

"I'm thankful there's something you don't know." Anthony tilted his chair back and then forward. His eyes were angry and dangerous. chair back and then forward. His eyes were angry and dangerous.

"You've got a nerve saying all this to me."

Race replied quietly: "I know. But I considered it had to be said."

Kemp watched them both with interest, but he did not speak. He stirred his tea round and round absentmindedly. stirred his tea round and round absentmindedly.

"Very well." Anthony sat upright. "Things have changed. It's no longer a question of sitting round a table, drinking disgusting fluids, and a question of sitting round a table, drinking disgusting fluids, and airing academic theories. This case has got to be solved. We've got to airing academic theories. This case has got to be solved. We've got to resolve all the difficulties and get at the truth. That's got to be my job - resolve all the difficulties and get at the truth. That's got to be my job - and I'll do it somehow. I've got to hammer at the things we don't know - and I'll do it somehow. I've got to hammer at the things we don't know - because when we do know them, the whole thing will be clear. because when we do know them, the whole thing will be clear.

"I'll re-state the problem. Who knew that Rosemary had been murdered? Who wrote to George telling him so? Why did they write to murdered? Who wrote to George telling him so? Why did they write to him? him?

"And now the murders themselves. Wash out the first one. It's too long ago, and we don't know exactly what happened. But the second ago, and we don't know exactly what happened. But the second murder took place in front of my eyes. I saw it happen. Therefore I murder took place in front of my eyes. I saw it happen. Therefore I ought to know how it happened. The ideal time to put the cyanide in ought to know how it happened. The ideal time to put the cyanide in George's gla.s.s was during the cabaret - but it couldn't have been put George's gla.s.s was during the cabaret - but it couldn't have been put in then because he drank from his gla.s.s immediately afterwards. I saw in then because he drank from his gla.s.s immediately afterwards. I saw him drink. After he drank, n.o.body put anything in his gla.s.s. n.o.body him drink. After he drank, n.o.body put anything in his gla.s.s. n.o.body touched his gla.s.s, nevertheless next time he drank, it was full of touched his gla.s.s, nevertheless next time he drank, it was full of cyanide. He couldn't have been poisoned - but he was! There was cyanide. He couldn't have been poisoned - but he was! There was cyanide in his gla.s.s - but n.o.body could have put it there! Are we cyanide in his gla.s.s - but n.o.body could have put it there! Are we getting on?" getting on?"

"No," said Chief Inspector Kemp.

"Yes," said Anthony. "The thing has now entered into the realm of a conjuring trick. Or a spirit manifestation. I will now outline my psychic conjuring trick. Or a spirit manifestation. I will now outline my psychic theory. Whilst we were dancing, the ghost of Rosemary hovers near theory. Whilst we were dancing, the ghost of Rosemary hovers near George's gla.s.s and drops in some cleverly materialised cyanide - any George's gla.s.s and drops in some cleverly materialised cyanide - any spirit can make cyanide out of ectoplasm. George comes back and spirit can make cyanide out of ectoplasm. George comes back and drinks her health and - oh, Lord." drinks her health and - oh, Lord."

The other two stared curiously at him. His hands were holding his head. He rocked to and fro in apparent mental agony. He said: head. He rocked to and fro in apparent mental agony. He said: "That's it... that's it... the bag... the waiter..."

"The waiter?" Kemp was alert.

Anthony shook his head.

"No, no. I don't mean what you mean. I did think once that what we needed was a waiter who was not a waiter but a conjurer - a waiter needed was a waiter who was not a waiter but a conjurer - a waiter who had been engaged the day before. Instead we had a waiter who who had been engaged the day before. Instead we had a waiter who had always been a waiter - and a little waiter who was of the royal line had always been a waiter - and a little waiter who was of the royal line of waiters - a cherubic waiter - a waiter above suspicion. And he's still of waiters - a cherubic waiter - a waiter above suspicion. And he's still above suspicion - but he played his part! Oh, Lord, yes, he played a above suspicion - but he played his part! Oh, Lord, yes, he played a star part." star part."

He stared at them.

"Don't you see it? A waiter could have poisoned the champagne but the waiter didn't. n.o.body touched George's gla.s.s but George was the waiter didn't. n.o.body touched George's gla.s.s but George was poisoned. A, indefinite article. The definite article. George's gla.s.s! poisoned. A, indefinite article. The definite article. George's gla.s.s!

George! Two separate things. And the money - lots and lots of money!

And who knows - perhaps love as well? Don't look at me as though I'm mad. Come on, I'll show you." mad. Come on, I'll show you."

Thrusting his chair back he sprang to his feet and caught Kemp by the arm. arm.

"Come with me."

Kemp cast a regretful glance at his half-full cup.

"Got to pay," he muttered.

"No, no, we'll be back in a moment. Come on. I must show you outside. Come on, Race." Come on, Race."

Pus.h.i.+ng the table aside, he swept them away with him to the vestibule.