They do it with mirrors - Agatha Christie [49]
‘Mrs Hudd is very well off, I understand?’
‘Not at present. My father settled the same sum on Gina’s mother as he did on me. But of course she took her husband’s nationality (I believe the law is altered now) and what with the war and his being a Fascist, Gina has very little of her own. My mother spoils her, and her American aunt, Mrs Van Rydock, spent fabulous sums on her and bought her everything she wanted during the war years. Nevertheless, from Walter’s point of view, he can’t lay his hands on much until my mother’s death, when a very large fortune will come to Gina.’
‘And to you, Mrs Strete.’
A faint colour came into Mildred Strete’s cheek.
‘And to me, as you say. My husband and myself always lived quietly. He spent very little money except on books — he was a great scholar. My own money has almost doubled itself. It is more than enough for my simple needs. Still one can always use money for the benefit of others. Any money that comes to me, I shall regard as a sacred trust.’
‘But it won’t be in a Trust, will it?’ said Curry, wilfully misunderstanding. ‘It will come to you absolutely.’
‘Oh yes — in that sense. Yes, it will be mine absolutely.’
Something in the ring of that last word made Inspector Curry raise his head sharply. Mrs Strete was not looking at him. Her eyes were shining, and her long thin mouth was curved in a triumphant smile.
Inspector said in a considering voice:
‘So in your view — and of course you’ve had ample opportunities of judging — Master Walter Hudd wants the money that will come to his wife when Mrs Serrocold dies. By the way, she’s not very strong, is she, Mrs Strete?’
‘My mother has always been delicate.’
‘Quite so. But delicate people often live as long or longer than people who have robust health.’
‘Yes, I suppose they do.’
‘You haven’t noticed your mother’s health failing just lately?’
‘She suffers from rheumatism. But then one must have something as one grows older. I’ve no sympathy with people who make a fuss over inevitable aches and pains.’
‘Does Mrs Serrocold make a fuss?’
Mildred Strete was silent for a moment. She said at last:
‘She does not make a fuss herself, but she is used to being made a fuss of. My stepfather is far too solicitous. And as for Miss Bellever, she makes herself positively ridiculous. In any case, Miss Bellever has had a very bad influence in this house. She came here many years ago, and her devotion to my mother, though admirable in itself, has really become somewhat of an infliction. She literally tyrannizes over my mother. She runs the whole house and takes far too much upon herself. I think it annoys Lewis sometimes. I should never be surprised if he told her to go. She has no tact — no tact whatever, and it is trying for a man to find his wife completely dominated by a bossy woman.’
Inspector Curry nodded his head gently.
‘I see…I see…’
He watched her speculatively.
‘There’s one thing I don’t quite get, Mrs Strete. The position of the two Restarick brothers?’
‘More foolish sentiment. Their father married my poor mother for her money. Two years afterwards he ran away with a Jugoslavian singer of the lowest morals. He was a very unworthy person. My mother was soft-hearted enough to be sorry for these two boys. Since it was out of the question for them to spend their holidays with a woman of such notorious morals, she more or less adopted them. They have been hangers-on here ever since. Oh yes, we’ve plenty of spongers in this house, I can tell you that.’
‘Alex Restarick had an opportunity of killing Christian Gulbrandsen. He was in his car alone — driving from the Lodge to the house — what about Stephen?’
‘Stephen was in the Hall with us. I don’t approve of Alex Restarick — he is getting to look very coarse, and I imagine he leads an irregular life — but I don’t really see him as a murderer. Besides, why should he kill my brother?’
‘That’s what we always come back to, isn’t it?’ said Inspector Curry genially. ‘What did Christian Gulbrandsen know — about someone — that made it necessary