Cat Among the Pigeons - Agatha Christie [46]
Inspector Kelsey resumed his authoritative manner.
“The point is,” he said, “that we think a lot of Meadowbank round these parts. It’s a fine school. And Miss Bulstrode’s a fine woman. The sooner we can get to the bottom of all this, the better for the school. We want to clear things up and give Meadowbank a clean bill of health.”
He paused, looking thoughtfully at Adam.
“I think,” he said, “we’ll have to tell Miss Bulstrode who you are. She’ll keep her mouth shut—don’t fear for that.”
Adam considered for a moment. Then he nodded his head.
“Yes,” he said. “Under the circumstances, I think it’s more or less inevitable.”
Twelve
NEW LAMPS FOR OLD
I
Miss Bulstrode had another faculty which demonstrated her superiority over most other women. She could listen.
She listened in silence to both Inspector Kelsey and Adam. She did not so much as raise an eyebrow. Then she uttered one word.
“Remarkable.”
It’s you who are remarkable, thought Adam, but he did not say so aloud.
“Well,” said Miss Bulstrode, coming as was habitual to her straight to the point. “What do you want me to do?”
Inspector Kelsey cleared his throat.
“It’s like this,” he said. “We felt that you ought to be fully informed—for the sake of the school.”
Miss Bulstrode nodded.
“Naturally,” she said, “the school is my first concern. It has to be. I am responsible for the care and safety of my pupils—and in a lesser degree for that of my staff. And I would like to add now that if there can be as little publicity as possible about Miss Springer’s death—the better it will be for me. This is a purely selfish point of view—though I think my school is important in itself—not only to me. And I quite realize that if full publicity is necessary for you, then you will have to go ahead. But is it?”
“No,” said Inspector Kelsey. “In this case I should say the less publicity the better. The inquest will be adjourned and we’ll let it get about that we think it was a local affair. Young thugs—or juvenile delinquents, as we have to call them nowadays—out with guns amongst them, trigger happy. It’s usually flick knives, but some of these boys do get hold of guns. Miss Springer surprised them. They shot her. That’s what I should like to let it go at—then we can get to work quiet-like. Not more than can be helped in the Press. But of course, Meadowbank’s famous. It’s news. And murder at Meadowbank will be hot news.”
“I think I can help you there,” said Miss Bulstrode crisply, “I am not without influence in high places.” She smiled and reeled off a few names. These included the Home Secretary, two Press barons, a bishop and the Minister of Education. “I’ll do what I can.” She looked at Adam. “You agree?”
Adam spoke quickly.
“Yes, indeed. We always like things nice and quiet.”
“Are you continuing to be my gardener?” inquired Miss Bulstrode.
“If you don’t object. It puts me right where I want to be. And I can keep an eye on things.”
This time Miss Bulstrode’s eyebrows did rise.
“I hope you’re not expecting anymore murders?”
“No, no.”
“I’m glad of that. I doubt if any school could survive two murders in one term.”
She turned to Kelsey.
“Have you people finished with the Sports Pavilion? It’s awkward if we can’t use it.”
“We’ve finished with it. Clean as a whistle—from our point of view, I mean. For whatever reason the murder was committed—there’s nothing there now to help us. It’s just a Sports Pavilion with the usual equipment.”
“Nothing in the girls’ lockers?”
Inspector Kelsey smiled.
“Well—this and that—copy of a book—French—called Candide—with—er—illustrations. Expensive book.”
“Ah,” said Miss Bulstrode. “So that’s where she keeps it! Giselle d’Aubray, I suppose?”
Kelsey’s respect for Miss Bulstrode rose.
“You don’t miss much, M’am,” he said.
“She won’t come to harm with Candide,” said Miss Bulstrode. “It’s a classic. Some forms of pornography I do confiscate. Now I come back to my first question. You have relieved my mind about the publicity connected with the school. Can the school help you in any way? Can I