The Seven Dials Mystery - Agatha Christie [60]
‘Very natural,’ said Bill.
‘Very often done, I believe,’ said Battle.
‘So as soon as the idea occurred to me, I left my room and came down. The house was very still–’
‘Excuse me,’ interrupted the Superintendent, ‘but can you give me an idea of the time when this occurred?’
‘I never know the time,’ said the Countess superbly, and swept on with her story.
‘The house was very quiet. One could even hear the little mouse run, if there had been one. I come down the stairs–very quietly–’
‘Very quietly?’
‘Naturally I do not want to disturb the household,’ said the Countess reproachfully. ‘I come in here. I go into this corner and I search the shelves for a suitable book.’
‘Having of course switched on the light?’
‘No, I did not switch on the light. I had, you see, my little electric torch with me. With that, I scanned the shelves.’
‘Ah!’ said the Superintendent.
‘Suddenly,’ continued the Countess dramatically, ‘I hear something. A stealthy sound. A muffled footstep. I switch out my torch and listen. The footsteps draw nearer–stealthy, horrible footsteps. I shrink behind the screen. In another minute the door opens and the light is switched on. The man–the burglar is in the room.’
‘Yes, but I say–’ began Mr Thesiger.
A large-sized foot pressed his, and realizing that Superintendent Battle was giving him a hint, Jimmy shut up.
‘I nearly died of fear,’ continued the Countess. ‘I tried not to breathe. The man waited for a minute, listening. Then, still with that horrible, stealthy tread–’
Again Jimmy opened his mouth in protest, and again shut it.
‘–he crossed to the window and peered out. He remained there for a minute or two, then he recrossed the room and turned out the lights again, locking the door. I am terrified. He is in the room, moving stealthily about in the dark. Ah, it is horrible. Suppose he should come upon me in the dark! In another minute I hear him again by the window. Then silence. I hope that perhaps he may have gone out that way. As the minutes pass and I hear no further sound, I am almost sure that he has done so. Indeed I am in the very act of switching on my torch and investigating when–prestissimo!–it all begins.’
‘Yes?’
‘Ah! But it was terrible–never–never shall I forget it! Two men trying to murder each other. Oh, it was horrible! They reeled about the room, and furniture crashed in every direction. I thought, too, that I heard a woman scream–but that was not in the room. It was outside somewhere. The criminal had a hoarse voice. He croaked rather than spoke. He kept saying “Lemme go–lemme go.” The other man was a gentleman. He had a cultured English voice.’
Jimmy looked gratified.
‘He swore–mostly,’ continued the Countess.
‘Clearly a gentleman,’ said Superintendent Battle.
‘And then,’ continued the Countess, ‘a flash and a shot. The bullet hit the bookcase beside me. I–I suppose I must have fainted.’
She looked up at Bill. He took her hand and patted it. ‘You poor dear,’ he said. ‘How rotten for you.’
‘Silly idiot,’ thought Bundle.
Superintendent Battle had moved on swift, noiseless feet over to the bookcase a little to the right of the screen. He bent down, searching. Presently he stooped and picked something up.
‘It wasn’t a bullet, Countess,’ he said. ‘It’s the shell of the cartridge. Where were you standing when you fired, Mr Thesiger.’
Jimmy took up a position by the window.
‘As nearly as I can see, about here.’
Superintendent Battle placed himself in the same spot.
‘That’s right,’ he agreed. ‘The empty shell would throw right rear. It’s a .455. I don’t wonder the Countess thought it was a bullet in the dark. It hit the bookcase about a foot from her. The bullet itself grazed the window frame and we’ll find it outside to-morrow–unless your assailant happens to be carrying it about in him.’
Jimmy shook his head regretfully.
‘Leopold, I fear, did