The Floating Admiral - Agatha Christie [122]
Exit Holland to ramble round in a dream of ecstasy till he is ashamed to knock up the Lord Marshall. Instead, he drifts round the harbour (where he may be seen if necessary) till six, when he goes in, unseen by Boots who is occupied in the bar. (Observe that Holland will now be ready to swear that he saw the Admiral alive after midnight.)
When the news of the Admiral’s death comes along, he is worried. He must see Elma. He goes to Rundel Croft, thinking that, as things are, she won’t want to go through with the marriage. He is delayed by Inspector Rudge, and when he gets free learns that Elma has gone to town as per schedule. He hastens after her, and, feeling that there is going to be a lot of trouble about this business, marries her. As his wife he can protect her. He sees, naturally, that it is impossible for them to stay in town as she suggests—they will have to go back for the inquest and funeral—but she is upset, and for the moment he humours her. (Note: He says nothing to Rudge about his midnight excursion, fearing to be detained. He will get hold of Elma first. Indeed, he may possibly at this point suspect Elma himself.)
13. Elma. The emphasis laid on the time spent in calling Elma and in dressing seems to me a little exaggerated. When she hears of the death, she is horrified. She can hardly help suspecting Walter of some guilty knowledge, but hopes, naturally, that the crime was committed by the other unknown man after Walter left them. She feels faint and sick—but will Emery bring her a cup of tea and she will try to pull herself together. Emery does so. Yes—she is better now—tell the Inspector she will be down in a quarter of an hour. She thinks over what she had better say. Nobody knows about Walter. Holland evidently thinks it was the Admiral who came in at midnight. She had better say nothing. She hopes Holland will say nothing without consulting her—in fact, he is probably already in town. She must tell Jennie to pack. Her white frock will do to be married in—she looks at it! Heavens! A smear of blood on the waist. Walter’s hand or coat must have made the mark when he greeted her.
Then Walter—! Horrible. She hastily hides the dress, gets into her clothes and comes down.
Elma will, of course, leave Holland to suppose that it was the Admiral he saw in the study, since otherwise she will have to explain about Walter. But she will have difficulty in explaining why she let Rudge suppose that she last saw the Admiral at ten o’clock.
14. The Vicar. Goes out early in the morning. No one has come to the car. What has happened? Finds his wife’s bag in summer-house and marks of high heels on path leading from house to summer-house, also on flower-bed near summer-house. (Note: It is the path between the summer-house and boat-house that is of brick. The other garden paths will be of gravel.) Anxious to avoid scandal, he takes a rake and fork and digs these over.
The weather has been hot and dry, but there has been rain on and off for a week or so before. (Note: There has been no prolonged drought, or Neddy Ware would have had something to say about its effect on the height of the river, which appears to be at least normal.) Therefore the earth, when turned up, looks suspiciously black and moist. After hearing of the murder the Vicar cannot help suspecting his wife of complicity or guilty knowledge at least. He learns the difference between preaching and practising the religious man’s duty to the State. He conceals the bag and waters the dug-up patches.
He must now find his