Secret of Chimneys - Agatha Christie [71]
‘You mean the one Prince Michael was shot with? No, I haven’t. Yet it must be in the house or grounds. I’ll take a hint from you, Mr Cade, and send some boys up bird’s-nesting. If I could get hold of the revolver, we might get forward a bit. That, and the bundle of letters. You say that a letter with the heading “Chimneys” was amongst them? Depend upon it that was the last one written. The instructions for finding the diamond are written in code in that letter.’
‘What’s your theory of the killing of Giuseppe?’ asked Anthony.
‘I should say he was a regular thief, and that he was got hold of, either by King Victor or by the Comrades of the Red Hand, and employed by them. I shouldn’t wonder at all if the Comrades and King Victor aren’t working together. The organization has plenty of money and power, but it isn’t very strong in brain. Giuseppe’s task was to steal the memoirs–they couldn’t have known that you had the letters–it’s a very odd coincidence that you should have, by the way.’
‘I know,’ said Anthony. ‘It’s amazing when you come to think of it.’
‘Giuseppe gets hold of the letters instead. Is at first vastly chagrined. Then sees the cutting from the paper and has the brilliant idea of turning them to account on his own by blackmailing the lady. He has, of course, no idea of their real significance. The Comrades find out what he is doing, believe that he is deliberately double-crossing them, and decree his death. They’re very fond of executing traitors. It has a picturesque element which seems to appeal to them. What I can’t quite make out is the revolver with “Virginia” engraved upon it. There’s too much finesse about that for the Comrades. As a rule, they enjoy plastering their Red Hand sign about–in order to strike terror into other would-be-traitors. No, it looks to me as though King Victor had stepped in there. But what his motive was, I don’t know. It looks like a very deliberate attempt to saddle Mrs Revel with the murder, and, on the surface, there doesn’t seem any particular point in that.’
‘I had a theory,’ said Anthony. ‘But it didn’t work out according to plan.’
He told Battle of Virginia’s recognition of Michael. Battle nodded his head.
‘Oh, yes, no doubt as to his identity. By the way, that old Baron has a very high opinion of you. He speaks of you in most enthusiastic terms.’
‘That’s very kind of him,’ said Anthony. ‘Especially as I’ve given him full warning that I mean to do my utmost to get hold of the missing memoirs before Wednesday next.’
‘You’ll have a job to do that,’ said Battle.
‘Y-es. You think so? I suppose King Victor and Co have got the letters.’
Battle nodded.
‘Pinched them off Giuseppe that day in Pont Street. Prettily planned piece of work, that. Yes, they’ve got ’em all right, and they’ve decoded them, and they know where to look.’
Both men were on the point of passing out of the room.
‘In here?’ said Anthony, jerking his head back.
‘Exactly, in here. But they haven’t found the prize yet, and they’re going to run a pretty risk trying to get it.’
‘I suppose,’ said Anthony. ‘That you’ve got a plan in that subtle head of yours?’
Battle returned no answer. He looked particularly stolid and unintelligent. Then, very slowly, he winked.
‘Want my help?’ asked Anthony.
‘I do. And I shall want someone else’s.’
‘Who is that?’
‘Mrs Revel’s. You may have noticed it, Mr Cade, but she’s a lady who has a particularly beguiling way with her.’
‘I’ve noticed it all right,’ said Anthony.
He glanced at his watch.
‘I’m inclined to agree with you about bed, Battle. A dip in the lake and a hearty breakfast will be far more to the point.’
He ran lightly upstairs to his bedroom. Whistling to himself, he discarded, his evening clothes, and picked up a dressing-gown and a bath towel.
Then suddenly he stopped dead in front of the dressing-table, staring at the object that reposed demurely in front of the looking-glass.
For a moment he could not believe his eyes. He took it up, examined it closely. Yes, there was no mistake.
It was the bundle of letters signed Virginia Revel. They were intact.