Murder Is Easy - Agatha Christie [23]
“I was afraid you’d say that,” said Luke.
Bridget said:
“You think this man is definitely mad?”
“Oh, I should say so. A lunatic all right, but a cunning one. The last person you’d ever suggest—probably a pillar of society like a Bank Manager.”
“Mr. Jones? I certainly can’t imagine him committing wholesale murders.”
“Then he’s probably the man we want.”
“It may be anyone,” said Bridget. “The butcher, the baker, the grocer, a farm labourer, a road mender, or the man who delivers the milk.”
“It may be—yes—but I think the field is a little more restricted than that.”
“Why?”
“My Miss Pinkerton spoke of the look in his eyes when he was measuring up his next victim. From the way she spoke I got the impression—it’s only an impression, mark you—that the man she was speaking of was at least her social equal. Of course, I may be wrong.”
“You’re probably quite right! Those nuances of conversation can’t be put down in black and white, but they’re the sort of things one doesn’t really make mistakes about.”
“You know,” said Luke, “it’s a great relief to have you knowing all about it.”
“It will probably cramp your style less, I agree. And I can probably help you.”
“Your help will be invaluable. You really mean to see it through?”
“Of course.”
Luke said with a sudden slight embarrassment:
“What about Lord Whitfield? Do you think—?”
“Naturally we don’t tell Gordon anything about it!” said Bridget.
“You mean he wouldn’t believe it?”
“Oh, he’d believe it! Gordon could believe anything! He’d probably be simply thrilled and insist on having half a dozen of his bright young men down to beat up the neighbourhood! He’d simply adore it!”
“That does rather rule it out,” agreed Luke.
“Yes, we can’t allow him to have his simple pleasures, I’m afraid.”
Luke looked at her. He seemed about to say something then changed his mind. He looked instead at his watch.
“Yes,” said Bridget, “we ought to be getting home.”
She got up. There was a sudden constraint between them as though Luke’s unspoken words hovered uncomfortably in the air.
They walked home in silence.
Seven
POSSIBILITIES
Luke sat in his bedroom. At lunch time he had sustained an interrogation by Mrs. Anstruther as to what flowers he had had in his garden in the Mayang Straits. He had then been told what flowers would have done well there. He had also listened to further “Talks to Young Men on the Subject of Myself” by Lord Whitfield. Now he was mercifully alone.
He took a sheet of paper and wrote down a series of names. It ran as follows:
Dr. Thomas.
Mr. Abbot.
Major Horton.
Mr. Ellsworthy.
Mr. Wake.
Mr. Jones.
Amy’s young man.
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, etc.
He then took another sheet of paper and headed it VICTIMS. Under this heading, he wrote:
Amy Gibbs: Poisoned.
Tommy Pierce: Pushed out of window.
Harry Carter: Shoved off footbridge (drunk? drugged?).
Dr. Humbleby: Blood Poisoning.
Miss Pinkerton: Run down by car.
He added:
Mrs. Rose?
Old Ben?
And after a pause:
Mrs. Horton?
He considered his lists, smoked awhile, then took up his pencil once more.
Dr. Thomas: Possible case against him.
Definite motive in the case of Dr. Humbleby. Manner of latter’s death suitable—namely, scientific poisoning by germs. Amy Gibbs visited him on afternoon of the day she died. (Anything between them? Blackmail?)
Tommy Pierce? No connection known. (Did Tommy know of connection between him and Amy Gibbs?)
Harry Carter? No connection known.
Was Dr. Thomas absent from Wychwood on the day Miss Pinkerton went to London?
Luke sighed and started a fresh heading:
Mr. Abbot: Possible case against him.
(Feel a lawyer is definitely a suspicious person. Possibly prejudice.) His personality, florid, genial, etc., would be definitely suspicious in a book—always suspect bluff genial men. Objection: this is not a book, but real life.
Motive for murder of Dr. Humbleby. Definite antagonism existed between them. H. defied Abbot. Sufficient motive