The Sittaford Mystery - Agatha Christie [58]
‘That’s a point,’ admitted Emily, ‘I didn’t think of that.’
‘I have questioned him narrowly about his method of entering his uncle’s house,’ went on Mr Dacres.
‘He says that Captain Trevelyan made him remove his boots, and leave them on the doorstep. That accounts for no wet marks being discovered in the hall.’
‘He doesn’t speak of having heard any sound—anything at all—that gives him the idea that there might have been someone else in the house?’
‘He didn’t mention it to me. But I will ask him.’
‘Thank you,’ said Emily. ‘If I write a note can you take it to him?’
‘Subject to its being read, of course.’
‘Oh, it will be a very discreet one.’
She crossed to the writing table and scribbled a few words.
‘Dearest Jim,—Everything’s going to be all right, so cheer up. I am working like the worst kind of slave to find out the truth. What an idiot you’ve been, darling.
Love from
Emily.’
‘There,’ she said.
Mr Dacres read it but made no comment.
‘I have taken pains with my handwriting,’ said Emily, ‘so that the prison authorities can read it easily. Now, I must be off.’
‘You will allow me to offer you a cup of tea.’
‘No, thank you, Mr Dacres. I have no time to lose. Iam going to see Jim’s Aunt Jennifer.’
At The Laurels, Emily was informed that Mrs Gardner was out but would be home shortly.
Emily smiled upon the parlourmaid.
‘I’ll come in and wait then.’
‘Would you like to see Nurse Davis?’
Emily was always ready to see anybody. ‘Yes,’ she said promptly.
A few minutes later Nurse Davis, starched and curious, arrived.
‘How do you do,’ said Emily. ‘I am Emily Trefusis—a kind of niece of Mrs Gardner’s. That is, I am going to be a niece, but my fiancé, Jim Pearson, has been arrested, as I expect you know.’
‘Oh, it’s been too dreadful,’ said Nurse Davis. ‘We saw it all in the papers this morning. What a terrible business. You seem to be bearing up wonderfully, Miss Trefusis—really wonderfully.’
There was a faint note of disapproval in the nurse’s voice. Hospital nurses, she implied, were able to bear up owing to their force of character, but lesser mortals were expected to give way.
‘Well, one mustn’t sag at the knees,’ said Emily. ‘I hope you don’t mind very much. I mean, it must be awkward for you to be associated with a family that has got a murder in it.’
‘It’s very unpleasant, of course,’ said Nurse Davis, unbending at this proof of consideration. ‘But one’s duty to one’s patient comes before everything.’
‘How splendid,’ said Emily. ‘It must be wonderful for Aunt Jennifer to feel she has somebody upon whom she can rely.’
‘Oh, really,’ said the nurse simpering, ‘you are too kind. But, of course, I have had curious experiences before this. Why, at the last case I attended—’ Emily listened patiently to a long and scandalous anecdote comprising complicated divorce and paternity questions. After complimenting Nurse Davis on her tact, discretion and savoir faire, Emily slid back to the topic of the Gardners.
‘I don’t know Aunt Jennifer’s husband at all,’ she said. ‘I’ve never met him. He never goes away from home, does he?’
‘No, poor fellow.’
‘What exactly is the matter with him?’
Nurse Davis embarked on the subject with professional gusto.
‘So, really he might get well again any minute,’ Emily murmured thoughtfully.
‘He would be terribly weak,’ said the nurse.
‘Oh, of course. But it makes it seem more hopeful, doesn’t it?’
The nurse shook her head with firm professional despondency.
‘I don’t suppose there will be any cure in his case.’
Emily had copied down in her little notebook the timetable of what she called Aunt Jennifer’s alibi. She now murmured tentatively:
‘How queer it seems to think that Aunt Jennifer was actually at the Pictures when her brother was being killed.’
‘Very sad, isn’t it?’ said Nurse Davis. ‘Of course, she couldn’t tell—but it gives one such a shock afterwards.’
Emily cast