Secret of Chimneys - Agatha Christie [33]
‘You recognized the body as that of one of your guests?’
‘That’s right, Inspector.’
‘By name?’
This perfectly simple question seemed to upset Lord Caterham. He opened his mouth once or twice, and then shut it again. Finally he asked feebly:
‘Do you mean–do you mean–what was his name?’
‘Yes, my lord.’
‘Well,’ said Lord Caterham, looking slowly round the room, as though hoping to gain inspiration. ‘His name was–I should say it was–yes, decidedly so–Count Stanislaus.’
There was something so odd about Lord Caterham’s manner, that the inspector ceased using his pencil and stared at him instead. But at that moment a diversion occurred which seemed highly welcome to the embarrassed peer.
The door opened and a girl came into the room. She was tall, slim and dark, with an attractive boyish face, and a very determined manner. This was Lady Eileen Brent, commonly known as Bundle, Lord Caterham’s eldest daughter. She nodded to the others, and addressed her father directly.
‘I’ve got him,’ she announced.
For a moment the inspector was on the point of starting forward under the impression that the young lady had captured the murderer red-handed, but almost immediately he realized that her meaning was quite different.
Lord Caterham uttered a sigh of relief.
‘That’s a good job. What did he say?’
‘He’s coming over at once. We are to “use the utmost discretion”.’
Her father made a sound of annoyance.
‘That’s just the sort of idiotic thing George Lomax would say. However, once he comes, I shall wash my hands of the whole affair.’
He appeared to cheer up a little at the prospect.
‘And the name of the murdered man was Count Stanislaus?’ queried the doctor.
A lightning glance passed between father and daughter, and then the former said with some dignity:
‘Certainly. I said so just now.’
‘I asked because you didn’t seem quite sure about it before,’ explained Cartwright.
There was a faint twinkle in his eye, and Lord Caterham looked at him reproachfully.
‘I’ll take you to the Council Chamber,’ he said more briskly.
They followed him, the inspector bringing up the rear, and darting sharp glances all around him as he went, much as though he expected to find a clue in a picture frame, or behind a door.
Lord Caterham took a key from his pocket and unlocked a door, flinging it open. They all passed into a big room panelled in oak, with three french windows giving on the terrace. There was a long refectory table and a good many oak chests, and some beautiful old chairs. On the walls were various paintings of dead and gone Caterhams and others.
Near the left-hand wall, about halfway between the door and the window, a man was lying on his back, his arms flung wide.
Dr Cartwright went over and knelt down by the body. The inspector strode across to the windows, and examined them in turn. The centre one was closed, but not fastened. On the steps outside were footprints leading up to the window, and a second set going away again.
‘Clear enough,’ said the inspector, with a nod. ‘But there ought to be footprints on the inside as well. They’d show up plain on this parquet floor.’
‘I think I can explain that,’ interposed Bundle. ‘The housemaid had polished half the floor this morning before she saw the body. You see, it was dark when she came in here. She went straight across to the windows, drew the curtains, and began on the floor, and naturally didn’t see the body which is hidden from that side of the room by the table. She didn’t see it until she came right on top of it.’
The inspector nodded.
‘Well,’ said Lord Caterham, eager to escape. ‘I’ll leave you here, Inspector. You’ll be able to find me if you–er–want me. But Mr George Lomax is coming over from Wyvern Abbey shortly, and he’ll be able to tell you far more than I could. It’s his business really. I can’t explain, but he will when he comes.’
Lord Caterham