The Sittaford Mystery - Agatha Christie [40]
He paused indecisively as he emerged from the front gate. Then he took from his pocket a small notebook. In it was entered a list of the inhabitants of the six bungalows built by Captain Trevelyan with a few brief remarks against each name. Inspector Narracott’s stubby forefinger paused at the entry against No. 6 The Cottages.
‘Yes,’ he said to himself. ‘I’d better see him next.’
He strode briskly down the lane and beat a firm rat-tat on the knocker of No. 6—the bungalow inhabited by Mr Duke.
Chapter 15
Visit to Major Burnaby
Leading the way up the path to the Major’s front door, Mr Enderby rapped upon it in a cheery fashion. The door was flung open almost immediately and Major Burnaby, red in the face, appeared on the threshold.
‘It’s you, is it?’ he observed with no very great fervour in his voice, and was about to go on in the same strain when he caught sight of Emily and his expression altered.
‘This is Miss Trefusis’ said Charles with the air of one producing the ace of trumps. ‘She was very anxious to see you.’
‘May I come in?’ said Emily with her sweetest smile.
‘Oh! yes. Certainly. Of course—Oh, yes, of course.’
Stumbling in his speech the Major backed into the living-room of his cottage and began pulling forward chairs and pushing aside tables.
Emily, as was her fashion, came straight to the point.
‘You see, Major Burnaby, I am engaged to Jim—Jim Pearson, you know. And naturally I am terribly anxious about him.’
In the act of pushing a table the Major paused with his mouth open.
‘Oh dear,’ he said, ‘that’s a bad business. My dear young lady, I am more sorry about it than I can say.’
‘Major Burnaby, tell me honestly. Do you yourself believe he is guilty? Oh, you needn’t mind saying if you do. I would a hundred times rather people didn’t lie to me.’
‘No, I do not think him guilty,’ said the Major in a loud assertive voice. He hit a cushion once or twice vigorously, and then sat down facing Emily. ‘The chap is a nice young chap. Mind you, he might be a bit weak. Don’t be offended if I say that he’s the kind of young fellow that might easily go wrong if temptation came in his way. But murder—no. And mind you, I know what Iam talking about—a lot of subalterns have passed through my hands in my time. It’s the fashion to poke fun at retired army officers nowadays, but we know a thing or two all the same, Miss Trefusis.’
‘I’m sure you do,’ said Emily. ‘I’m awfully grateful to you for saying what you’ve done.’
‘Have—have a whisky and soda?’ said the Major. ‘I’m afraid there’s nothing else,’ he said apologetically.
‘No, thank you, Major Burnaby.’
‘Some plain soda then?’
‘No, thank you,’ said Emily.
‘I ought to be able to produce tea,’ said the Major with a touch of wistfulness.
‘We’ve had it,’ said Charles. ‘At Mrs Curtis’s,’ he added.
‘Major Burnaby,’ said Emily, ‘who do you think did it—have you any idea at all?’
‘No. I am damned—er—bother—if I have,’ said the Major. ‘Took it for granted it was some chap that broke in, but now the police say that can’t be so. Well, it’s their job, and I suppose they know best. They say nobody broke in, so I suppose nobody did break in. But all the same it beats me, Miss Trefusis. Trevelyan hadn’t an enemy in the world as far as I know.’
‘And you would know if anybody did,’ said Emily.
‘Yes, I suppose I knew more of Trevelyan than many of his relations did.’
‘And you can’t think of anything—anything that would help, in any way?’ asked Emily.
The Major pulled at his short moustache.
‘I know what you’re thinking. Like in books there ought to be some little incident that I should remember that would be a clue. Well, I’m sorry, but there isn’t any such thing. Trevelyan just led an ordinary life. Got very few letters and wrote less. There were no female complications in his life, I am sure of that. No, it beats me, Miss Trefusis.’
All three were silent.
‘What about that servant of his?’ asked Charles.
‘Been with him for years. Absolutely faithful.’
‘He had married lately,