The Floating Admiral - Agatha Christie [112]
CHAPTER V
By John Rhode
THE so-called Admiral Penistone was an impostor. He was, I think, by profession a blackmailer (hence the files of newspaper cuttings) who had contrived to get several people into his power, among them Sir Wilfrid Denny, who had been impoverished by “Penistone’s” constant demands.
Denny decides to commit the murder. He learns that “Penistone” has arranged to meet Holland on the night of the ninth, and lies in wait for him at Fernton Bridge. As he passes, Denny hails him, saying that he has urgent business to discuss—perhaps that he has money which “Penistone” had demanded. He gets back into the boat, sitting in the stern with “Penistone” facing him as he rows. When they reach the railway bridge (see Map) he suddenly rises and plunges the dagger into “Penistone” as he leans forward to take a stroke.
He leaves the boat under the bridge, among the piles, where it is safe from observation in the dark. He then calls at an hotel in Whynmouth, in order to establish his presence there at a particular hour (11 p.m.). He slips out from here, and goes to the Lord Marshall, where he impersonates “Penistone,” not a very difficult matter owing to the darkness of the hall, with the object of suggesting that “Penistone” was then alive. Then he returned to the first hotel, where he remains till after midnight. He had thus established as good an alibi as he could.
The body, being under cover of the bridge, remains dry. As soon as the tide slackens, he rows up the river, transfers the body to the Vicar’s boat, swings the stern in to shore, and lands. Seeing the Vicar’s hat, he puts that in the boat, by way of confusing the trail. Then he proceeds according to Ware’s speculation.
He replaces the Admiral’s boat in the Rundel Croft boat-house, making the mistake of doing so bow first. This done, he walks home to West End. His sudden departure for London is concerned with the will of John Martin Fitzgerald, a subject at present somewhat obscure.
CHAPTER VI
By Milward Kennedy
1. FOUR men are engaged in the supply of arms to Chinese armies: they are Mr. X (main financial element), Admiral Penistone (Gunnery Expert: acquainted with China: retired under a cloud from the Navy: the Admiral has a smaller financial interest), Sir Wilfrid Denny (formerly of the Chinese Customs Service) and Holland (who does the “transactions on the spot”). Holland is naturally unready to discuss his business with the police.
2. The Admiral wants to increase his financial holding—in other words to oust Mr. X. He is in negotiation with Sir Wilfrid and Holland to that end.
3. Sir Wilfrid is reluctant; he refuses to move openly and warns Mr. X secretly.
4. Mr. X, already suspicious of the Admiral and wishing to keep an eye on his doings, has persuaded his mistress to go as French maid to Elma Fitzgerald.
5. When the Admiral moves to Rundel Croft: (a) Sir Wilfrid is afraid Mr. X will think he too is letting him down; (b) the “French maid” discovers that just across the river lives the husband whom she deserted ten years ago. She clears out, and tells Mr. X why.
6. Sir Wilfrid reports to Mr. X that the Admiral is trying to arrange a meeting of the three partners. Holland apparently has agreed. Sir Wilfrid is told to agree also and to get the meeting held at some “neutral” place, say near (not on) Fernton Bridge. He is told, moreover, not to let it be known that he has any dealings with Holland and the Admiral.
7. The Admiral will not give his assent to Elma marrying Holland unless Holland falls in with his “commercial” plans, and further agrees to put into the new concern which he hopes to form some of the capital which Elma will acquire. Perhaps he also wants to help in “manipulating” her brother’s money. Her brother, always a rolling stone, has disappeared, but has been heard of too recently for his death to be “presumed.”
8. Mr. X, informed by Sir Wilfrid of the time and place fixed for the “secret meeting,” drives down dressed as a chauffeur and wearing gauntlets. He insists that the “French maid