They do it with mirrors - Agatha Christie [46]
‘Mr Serrocold was particularly anxious that she should not be — alarmed.’
‘Alarmed isn’t the right word, Inspector. Mrs Serrocold is never alarmed…Is that what lies behind Christian Gulbrandsen’s death? Did he find out she was being poisoned — but how could he find out? Anyway, the whole thing seems most improbable. It doesn’t make sense.’
‘It surprises you very much, does it, Mr Restarick?’
‘Yes, indeed. When Alex spoke to me I could hardly believe it.’
‘Who, in your opinion, would be likely to administer arsenic to Mrs Serrocold?’
For a moment a grin appeared upon Stephen Restarick’s handsome face.
‘Not the usual person. You can wash out the husband. Lewis Serrocold’s got nothing to gain. And also he worships that woman. He can’t bear her to have an ache in her little finger.’
‘Who then? Have you any idea?’
‘Oh yes. I’d say it was a certainty.’
‘Explain, please.’
Stephen shook his head.
‘It’s a certainty psychologically speaking. Not in any other way. No evidence of any kind. And you probably wouldn’t agree.’
Stephen Restarick went out nonchalantly, and Inspector Curry drew cats on the sheet of paper in front of him.
He was thinking three things. A, that Stephen Restarick thought a good deal of himself; B, that Stephen Restarick and his brother presented a united front; and C, that Stephen Restarick was a handsome man where Walter Hudd was a plain one.
He wondered about two other things — what Stephen meant by ‘psychologically speaking’ and whether Stephen could possibly have seen Gina from his seat at the piano. He rather thought not.
III
Into the Gothic gloom of the library, Gina brought an exotic glow. Even Inspector Curry blinked a little at the radiant young woman who sat down, leaned forward over the table and said expectantly, ‘Well?’
Inspector Curry, observing her scarlet shirt and dark green slacks, said drily:
‘I see you’re not wearing mourning, Mrs Hudd?’
‘I haven’t got any,’ said Gina. ‘I know everyone is supposed to have a little black number and wear it with pearls. But I don’t. I hate black. I think it’s hideous, and only receptionists and housekeepers and people like that ought to wear it. Anyway Christian Gulbrandsen wasn’t really a relation. He’s my grandmother’s stepson.’
‘And I suppose you didn’t know him very well?’
Gina shook her head.
‘He came here three or four times when I was a child, but then in the war I went to America, and I only came back here to live about six months ago.’
‘You have definitely come back here to live? You’re not just on a visit?’
‘I haven’t really thought,’ said Gina.
‘You were in the Great Hall last night, when Mr Gulbrandsen went to his room?’
‘Yes. He said goodnight and went away. Grandam asked if he had everything he wanted and he said yes — that Jolly had fixed him up fine. Not those words, but that kind of thing. He said he had letters to write.’
‘And then?’
Gina described the scene between Lewis and Edgar Lawson. It was the same story that Inspector Curry had by now heard many times, but it took an added colour, a new gusto, under Gina’s handling. It became drama.
‘It was Wally’s revolver,’ she said. ‘Fancy Edgar’s having the guts to go and pinch it out of his room. I’d never have believed he’d have the guts.’
‘Were you alarmed when they went into the study and Edgar Lawson locked the door?’
‘Oh no,’ said Gina, opening her enormous brown eyes very wide. ‘I loved it. It was so ham, you know, and so madly theatrical. Everything Edgar does is always ridiculous. One can’t take him seriously for a moment.’
‘He did fire the revolver, though?’
‘Yes. We all thought then that he’d shot Lewis after all.’
‘And did you enjoy that?’ Inspector Curry could not refrain from asking.
‘Oh no, I was terrified, then. Everyone was, except Grandam. She never turned a hair.’
‘That seems rather remarkable.’
‘Not really. She’s that kind of person. Not quite in this world. She’s the sort of person who never believes anything bad can happen. She’s sweet.’
‘During all this scene, who was in the Hall?’
‘Oh we were all there. Except Uncle Christian, of