They do it with mirrors - Agatha Christie [37]
Briefly, he told her what he had told Inspector Curry the night before.
Miss Marple looked horrified.
‘I can’t believe it, Mr Serrocold. I really can’t believe it.’
‘That is what I felt when Christian Gulbrandsen told me.’
‘I should have said that dear Carrie Louise had not got an enemy in the world.’
‘It seems incredible that she should have. But you see the implication? Poisoning — slow poisoning — is an intimate family matter. It must be one of our closely-knit little household — ’
‘If it is true. Are you sure that Mr Gulbrandsen was not mistaken?’
‘Christian was not mistaken. He is too cautious a man to make such a statement without foundation. Besides, the police took away Caroline’s medicine bottle and a separate sample of its contents. There was arsenic in both of them — and arsenic was not prescribed. The actual quantitative tests will take longer — but the actual fact of arsenic being present is established.’
‘Then her rheumatism — the difficulty in walking — all that — ’
‘Yes, leg cramps are typical, I understand. Also, before you came, Caroline has had one or two severe attacks of a gastric nature — I never dreamed until Christian came — ’
He broke off. Miss Marple said softly: ‘So Ruth was right!’
‘Ruth?’
Lewis Serrocold sounded surprised. Miss Marple flushed.
‘There is something I have not told you. My coming here was not entirely fortuitous. If you will let me explain — I’m afraid I tell things so badly. Please have patience.’
Lewis Serrocold listened whilst Miss Marple told him of Ruth’s unease and urgency.
‘Extraordinary,’ he commented. ‘I had no idea of this.’
‘It was all so vague,’ said Miss Marple. ‘Ruth herself didn’t know why she had this feeling. There must be a reason — in my experience there always is — but “something wrong” was as near as she could get.’
Lewis Serrocold said grimly:
‘Well, it seems that she was right. Now, Miss Marple, you see how I am placed. Am I to tell Carrie Louise of this?’
Miss Marple said quickly: ‘Oh no,’ in a distressed voice, and then flushed and stared doubtfully at Lewis. He nodded.
‘So you feel as I do? As Christian Gulbrandsen did. Should we feel like that with an ordinary woman?’
‘Carrie Louise is not an ordinary woman. She lives by her trust, by her belief in human nature — oh dear, I am expressing myself very badly. But I do feel that until we know who — ’
‘Yes, that is the crux. But you do see, Miss Marple, that there is a risk in saying nothing — ’
‘And so you want me to — how shall I put it? — watch over her?’
‘You see, you are the only person whom I can trust,’ said Lewis Serrocold simply. ‘Everyone here seems devoted. But are they? Now your attachment goes back many years.’
‘And also I only arrived a few days ago,’ said Miss Marple pertinently.
Lewis Serrocold smiled.
‘Exactly.’
‘It is a very mercenary question,’ said Miss Marple apologetically. ‘But who exactly would benefit if dear Carrie Louise were to die?’
‘Money!’ said Lewis bitterly. ‘It always boils down to money, doesn’t it?’
‘Well, I really think it must be in this case. Because Carrie Louise is a very sweet person with a great deal of charm, and one cannot really imagine anyone disliking her. She couldn’t, I mean, have an enemy. So then it does boil down, as you put it, to a question of money, because as you don’t need me to tell you, Mr Serrocold, people will quite often do anything for money.’
‘I suppose so, yes.’
He went on: ‘Naturally Inspector Curry has already taken up that point. Mr Gilfoy is coming down from London today and can give detailed information. Gilfoy, Gilfoy, Jaimes and Gilfoy are a very eminent firm of lawyers. This Gilfoy’s father was one of the original trustees, and they drew up both Caroline’s will and the original will of Eric Gulbrandsen. I will put it in simple terms for you — ’
‘Thank you,’ said Miss Marple gratefully. ‘So mystifying the