The Seven Dials Mystery - Agatha Christie [62]
‘Remarkable,’ he said. ‘Remarkable. I wouldn’t have believed it possible–even for you, Lady Eileen. I ought to have known better.’
‘But you did give me a hint, Superintendent Battle. You told me to ask Bill Eversleigh.’
‘It’s dangerous to give people like you a hint, Lady Eileen. I never dreamt of your going to the lengths you have.’
‘Well, it’s all right, Superintendent Battle. My death doesn’t lie at your door.’
‘Not yet, it doesn’t,’ said Battle grimly.
He stood as though in thought, turning things over in his mind. ‘What Mr Thesiger was about, letting you run into danger like that, I can’t think,’ he said presently.
‘He didn’t know till afterwards,’ said Bundle. ‘I’m not a complete mug, Superintendent Battle. And, anyway, he’s got his hands full looking after Miss Wade.’
‘Is that so?’ said the Superintendent. ‘Ah!’
He twinkled a little.
‘I shall have to detail Mr Eversleigh to look after you, Lady Eileen.’
‘Bill!’ said Bundle contemptuously. ‘But, Superintendent Battle, you haven’t heard the end of my story. The woman I saw there–Anna–No 1. Yes, No 1 is the Countess Radzky.’
And rapidly she went on to describe her recognition of the mole.
To her surprise the Superintendent hemmed and hawed.
‘A mole isn’t much to go upon, Lady Eileen. Two women might have an identical mole very easily. You must remember that the Countess Radzky is a very well-known figure in Hungary.’
‘Then this isn’t the real Countess Radzky. I tell you I’m sure this is the same woman I saw there. And look at her tonight–the way we found her. I don’t believe she ever fainted at all.’
‘Oh, I shouldn’t say that, Lady Eileen. That empty shell striking the bookcase beside her might have frightened any woman half out of her wits.’
‘But what was she doing there anyway? One doesn’t come down to look for a book with an electric torch.’
Battle scratched his cheek. He seemed unwilling to speak. He began to pace up and down the room, as though making up his mind. At last he turned to the girl.
‘See here, Lady Eileen, I’m going to trust you. The Countess’s conduct is suspicious. I know that as well as you do. It’s very suspicious–but we’ve got to go carefully. There mustn’t be any unpleasantness with the Embassies. One has got to be sure.’
‘I see. If you were sure…’
‘There’s something else. During the war, Lady Eileen, there was a great outcry about German spies being left at large. Busybodies wrote letters to the papers about it. We paid no attention. Hard words didn’t hurt us. The small fry were left alone. Why? Because through them, sooner or later, we got the big fellow–the man at the top.’
‘You mean?’
‘Don’t bother about what I mean, Lady Eileen. But remember this. I know all about the Countess. And I want her let alone.’
‘And now,’ added Superintendent Battle ruefully, ‘I’ve got to think of something to say to Sir Stanley Digby!’
Chapter 23
Superintendent Battle in Charge
It was ten o’clock on the following morning. The sun poured in through the windows of the library, where Superintendent Battle had been at work since six. On a summons from him, George Lomax, Sir Oswald Coote and Jimmy Thesiger had just joined him, having repaired the fatigues of the night with a substantial breakfast. Jimmy’s arm was in a sling, but he bore little trace of the night’s affray.
The Superintendent eyed all three of them benevolently, somewhat with the air of a kindly curator explaining a museum to little boys. On the table beside him were various objects, neatly labelled. Amongst them Jimmy recognized Leopold.
‘Ah, Superintendent,’ said George, ‘I have been anxious to know how you have progressed. Have you caught the man?’
‘He’ll take a lot of catching, he will,’ said the Superintendent.
His failure in that respect did not appear to rankle with him.
George Lomax did not look particularly well pleased. He detested levity of any kind.
‘I’ve got everything taped out pretty clearly,’ went on