‘Which of you killed her?’

Chapter Twenty-four

Dr. Gardiner sat looking at Inspector Rock. They made a sharp contrast – Gardiner thin, dark, alert, and the Inspector a big fair man who would be massive by the time he was fifty. At present he was a likeable thirty-six with a pleasant blue eye and a humorous mouth. They were in the study, and somehow they made it seem crowded. Too many pictures on the walls, too much china, too many nicknacks. Gardiner said,

‘Well, I can only go on saying what I have said all along. If she fell down the stairs and was killed, then someone arranged the body in the position in which we found it. The back of her head – well, you saw it for yourself – completely crushed. But she was found lying on her face, and everyone swears they didn’t turn her over. And why should they? The other way round and there would have been some sense in it. If you find a woman lying on her face, you might turn her over, but if she’s lying on her back, why should you? No sense in it at all.’

He had pulled a chair sideways to one of the windows and sat there, one knee over the other – Rock conventionally at Miss Olivia’s writing-table, but with his chair slewed about to face the doctor. He made one of those non-committal sounds, and Gardiner went on.

‘I won’t dogmatise about the time she died. Your man will be able to tell you more about that after the post-mortem, but if Burdon and Miss Sayle and the maid are all telling the truth about when they found her, then they couldn’t have had any hand in arranging the position. To have been done with any chance of deceiving anyone it must have been done soon. It wasn’t much after half past seven when they rang me, and I was here by ten minutes after eight, and she had certainly been dead a good many hours then. As you know, I rang you up at once, and here we are. I take it the rest of your gang will be along at any time. You won’t want me any more.’

‘I thought you might stay until Black gets here. I thought he might like to see you.’

Gardiner’s shoulder lifted.

‘Nothing I can do,’ he said.

‘Well, you were the first on the spot. I was going to ask you what you thought of it all.’

The shoulder jerked again.

‘Not my business.’

‘Oh, just for my own private consideration and strictly off the record.’

Gardiner had a twisted smile for that.

‘Oh, well, plenty of animus knocking about. Miss Olivia very determined about someone having killed her sister. Miss Sayle very quiet and shocked. Burdon a good deal distressed. And the maid Anna as temperamental as they come. She’s been with them for forty years, so I suppose she has a right to be upset. The butler is her husband – a whole lot younger, and not so long in their service – a mere fifteen or twenty years. He appears to be normally affected. That’s the best I can do.’

‘No one else in the house?’

‘Not living in. The daily woman showed up and had hysterics. She comes out from Retley.’

He had got to his feet and was stretching, when the door opened and Olivia Benevent came in. She was now fully dressed in the black buttoned-up garment which was her usual morning wear, only instead of the grey and mauve coatee which she had worn yesterday she had thrown about her shoulders a plain black shawl. The whole effect was that of the deepest mourning. Dr. Gardiner had the ironic thought that whatever happened, women must still be thinking of their clothes.

She came up to her writing-table in a very composed manner and addressed the Superintendent with chill formality.

‘May I enquire how long you intend to leave my sister’s body lying on the floor in the hall?’

The Inspector rose to his feet.

‘I am very sorry, Miss Benevent, but you yourself have suggested that this may be a case of murder. It is my duty to see that nothing is moved until measurements and photographs have been taken. The necessary apparatus is on its way. If you will retire to your own sitting-room, I will let you know as soon as we have finished.’

She stood there without moving.

‘And when do you propose to arrest the person who killed my sister?’

‘Miss Benevent – ’

‘Do you need me to tell you who it was? There is only one person who had any interest in her death, her great-niece Candida Sayle – a girl whom we invited here in the kindness of our hearts, a girl who had been left penniless, but who now inherits Underhill and everything that belonged to my sister. Perhaps you did not know that.’

‘Miss Benevent – ’

She interrupted him in the same cold manner as before.

‘I assure you that that is the case. You may, if you please refer to our solicitor, Mr. Tampling, for corroboration. So you see, there is quite a strong motive.’

‘This is a very serious accusation. Have you any evidence to support it?’

‘There is the motive.’

‘Is there any evidence?’

She pressed her lips together for a moment, and then said,

‘We were at a reception at the Deanery the night before last. Candida made herself conspicuous with a young man of whom we do not approve. On our return home she went upstairs with my sister, accompanying her to the door of her room. It is possible that my sister reproved her for her conduct – I do not know. But as I came up behind then I was aware that there was something wrong – my sister seemed to be much distressed. When she had gone into her room I spoke to Candida. I told her that her aunt was not strong and must not be upset. She said, “What does it matter when you are as old as that? She will die soon anyhow.” ’

‘She used those words? You are certain?’

‘I am perfectly certain.’

‘They were spoken in anger?’

‘They were spoken coolly, impudently – and I struck her.’

He made no comment. Perhaps that stung her. She tapped with her foot.

‘No doubt she will tell you about it herself, but you need not suppose that she will tell you the truth. You can ask Anna. My sister had rung for her, and she was coming along the passage. I do not know how much she heard, but she saw what I was provoked into doing. I am not accustomed to having my word doubted, but in a case of murder I understand that the testimony of a second person is desirable. Anna is such a person.’

‘Certainly. But I would ask you again what reason you have to suppose that your sister was murdered.’

She stood there straight and motionless, the black shawl falling almost to her feet.

‘My sister was greatly fatigued – she went up early. Anna left her in bed. Why should she have got up again. She would not have done so unless she had been persuaded, and who was there to persuade her except that girl? I know that she had already tried to see my sister, because I heard a sound in the passage and I opened my door. Candida was about to enter my sister’s room. Anna can confirm this if she chooses. She was there, but Candida seems to have bewitched her – she may not tell the truth. I have not discussed the matter with her. When I said that my sister was not to be disturbed, they went away. Do you think it surprising if I believe that Candida came back later? I do not know how she persuaded my sister to leave her room, but it is clear that she was persuaded, and that when she came to the head of the stairs she was pushed. She was in frail health, and it would not have been difficult. That is all I have to say.’ She turned round and walked out of the room.

Dr. Gardiner whistled.

‘And where do we go from here?’ he said.

Since it was just then that the police surgeon, the photographer, and other police reinforcements arrived, Rock had no occasion to reply. There is a routine that waits on violent death. Photographs and fingerprints must be taken before the body can be moved or decent privacy be accorded it. A postmortem lies ahead. It was some time before Rock was at leisure for an interview. He had in a young detective to take shorthand notes and sent for Anna.