Destination Unknown - Agatha Christie [79]
Lord Alverstoke remarked in his dry, judicial voice:
‘Very remarkable.’
In the big chair Mr Aristides stirred. His eyelids blinked once or twice rapidly. Then he asked a question.
‘Where were the last traces of this party of people found?’
‘At a disused airfield, sir.’ He gave precise location.
‘That is many hundreds of miles from here,’ said Mr Aristides. ‘Granted that your very interesting speculations are correct, that for some reason the accident was faked, these passengers, I gather, then took off from this disused airport for some unknown destination. Since that airport is many hundreds of miles from here, I really cannot see on what you base your belief that these people are here. Why should they be?’
‘There are certain very good reasons, sir. A signal was picked up by one of our searching aeroplanes. The signal was brought to Monsieur Leblanc here. Commencing with a special code recognition signal, it gave the information that the people in question were at a leper settlement.’
‘I find this remarkable,’ said Mr Aristides. ‘Very remarkable. But it seems to me that there is no doubt that an attempt has been made to mislead you. These people are not here.’ He spoke with a quiet, definite decision. ‘You are at perfect liberty to search the settlement if you like.’
‘I doubt if we should find anything, sir,’ said Jessop. ‘Not, that is, by a superficial search, although,’ he added deliberately, ‘I am aware of the area at which the search should begin.’
‘Indeed! And where is that?’
‘In the fourth corridor from the second laboratory turning to the left at the end of the passage there.’
There was an abrupt movement from Dr Van Heidem. Two glasses crashed from the table to the floor. Jessop looked at him, smiling.
‘You see, Doctor,’ he said, ‘we are well informed.’
Van Heidem said sharply, ‘It’s preposterous. Absolutely preposterous! You are suggesting that we are detaining people here against their will. I deny that categorically.’
The Minister said uncomfortably:
‘We seem to have arrived at an impasse.’
Mr Aristides said gently:
‘It has been an interesting theory. But it is only a theory.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘You will excuse me, gentlemen, if I suggest that you should leave now. You have a long drive back to the airport, and there will be alarm felt if your plane is overdue.’
Both Leblanc and Jessop realized that it had come now to the showdown. Aristides was exerting all the force of his considerable personality. He was daring these men to oppose his will. If they persisted, it meant that they were willing to come out into the open against him. The Minister, as per his instructions, was anxious to capitulate. The Chief of Police was anxious only to be agreeable to the Minister. The American Ambassador was not satisfied, but he, too, would hesitate for diplomatic reasons to insist. The British Consul would have to fall in with the other two.
The journalists–Aristides considered the journalists–the journalists could be attended to! Their price might come high but he was of the opinion that they could be bought. And if they could not be bought–well, there were other ways.
As for Jessop and Leblanc, they knew. That was clear, but they could not act without authority. His eyes went on and met the eyes of a man as old as himself, cold, legal eyes. This man, he knew, could not be bought. But after all…his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of that cold, clear, far away little voice.
‘I am of the opinion,’ said the voice, ‘that we should not unduly hurry our departure. For there is a case here that it seems to me would bear further inquiry. Grave allegations have been made and should not, I consider, be allowed to drop. In fairness every opportunity should be given to rebut them.’
‘The onus of proof,’ said Mr Aristides, ‘is on you.’ He made a graceful gesture towards the company. ‘A preposterous