Parker Pyne Investigates - Agatha Christie [83]
‘No waiters, for instance?’ suggested Mr Parker Pyne.
Llewellyn shook his head.
‘They went out before the girl began messing about with the diamond, and afterwards Pointz locked the door so as to keep them out. No, it lies between one of us.’
‘It would certainly seem so,’ said Mr Parker Pyne thoughtfully.
‘That damned evening paper,’ said Evan Llewellyn bitterly. ‘I saw it come into their minds–that that was the only way–’
‘Just tell me again exactly what occurred.’
‘It was perfectly simple. I threw open the window, whistled to the man, threw down a copper and he tossed me up the paper. And there it is, you see–the only possible way the diamond could have left the room–thrown by me to an accomplice waiting in the street below.’
‘Not the only possible way,’ said Mr Parker Pyne.
‘What other way can you suggest?’
‘If you didn’t throw it out, there must have been some other way.’
‘Oh, I see. I hoped you meant something more definite than that. Well, I can only say that I didn’t throw it out. I can’t expect you to believe me–or anyone else.’
‘Oh, yes, I believe you,’ said Mr Parker Pyne.
‘You do? Why?’
‘Not a criminal type,’ said Mr Parker Pyne. ‘Not, that is, the particular criminal type that steals jewellery. There are crimes, of course, that you might commit–but we won’t enter into that subject. At any rate I do not see you as the purloiner of the Morning Star.’
‘Everyone else does though,’ said Llewellyn bitterly.
‘I see,’ said Mr Parker Pyne.
‘They looked at me in a queer sort of way at the time. Marroway picked up the paper and just glanced over at the window. He didn’t say anything. But Pointz cottoned on to it quick enough! I could see what they thought. There hasn’t been any open accusation, that’s the devil of it.’
Mr Parker Pyne nodded sympathetically.
‘It is worse than that,’ he said.
‘Yes. It’s just suspicion. I’ve had a fellow round asking questions–routine inquiries, he called it. One of the new dress-shirted lot of police, I suppose. Very tactful–nothing at all hinted. Just interested in the fact that I’d been hard up and was suddenly cutting a bit of a splash.’
‘And were you?’
‘Yes–some luck with a horse or two. Unluckily my bets were made on the course–there’s nothing to show that that’s how the money came in. They can’t disprove it, of course–but that’s just the sort of easy lie a fellow would invent if he didn’t want to show where the money came from.’
‘I agree. Still they will have to have a good deal more than that to go upon.’
‘Oh! I’m not afraid of actually being arrested and charged with the theft. In a way that would be easier–one would know, where one was. It’s the ghastly fact that all those people believe I took it.’
‘One person in particular?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘A suggestion–nothing more–’ Again Mr Parker Pyne waved his comfortable-looking hand. ‘There was one person in particular, wasn’t there? Shall we say Mrs Rustington?’
Llewellyn’s dark face flushed.
‘Why pitch on her?’
‘Oh, my dear sir–there is obviously someone whose opinion matters to you greatly–probably a lady. What ladies were there? An American flapper? Lady Marroway? But you would probably rise not fall in Lady Marroway’s estimation if you had brought off such a coup. I know something of the lady. Clearly then, Mrs Rustington.’
Llewellyn said with something of an effort,
‘She–she’s had rather an unfortunate experience. Her husband was a down and out rotter. It’s made her unwilling to trust anyone. She–if she thinks–’
He found it difficult to go on.
‘Quite so,’ said Mr Parker Pyne. ‘I see the matter is important. It must be cleared up.’
Evan gave a short laugh.
‘That’s easy to say.’
‘And quite easy to do,’ said Mr Parker Pyne.
‘You think so?’
‘Oh, yes–the problem is so clear cut. So many possibilities are ruled out. The answer must really be extremely simple. Indeed already I have a kind of glimmering–’
Llewellyn stared at him incredulously.
Mr Parker Pyne drew a pad of paper towards him and picked up a pen.
‘Perhaps