They do it with mirrors - Agatha Christie [57]
‘Don’t talk like that about Miss Bellever.’
‘Sorry, Miss. It slipped out. What poison was it, Miss? Strickline, was it? Makes you arch your back and die in agonies, that does. Or was it Prussian acid?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ernie.’
Ernie winked again.
‘Not ’alf you don’t! Mr Alex it was done it, so they say. Brought them chocs down from London. But that’s a lie. Mr Alex wouldn’t do a thing like that, would he, Miss?’
‘Of course he wouldn’t,’ said Gina.
‘Much more likely to be Mr Baumgarten. When he’s giving us P.T. he makes the most awful faces, and Don and I think as he’s batty.’
‘Just move that turpentine out of the way.’
Ernie obeyed, murmuring to himself:
‘Don’t ’arf see life ’ere! Old Gulbrandsen done in yesterday and now a secret poisoner. D’you think it’s the same person doing both? What ’ud you say, Miss, if I told you as I know oo it was done ’im in?’
‘You can’t possibly know anything about it.’
‘Coo, carn’t I neither? Supposin’ I was outside last night and saw something.’
‘How could you have been out? The College is locked up after roll call at seven.’
‘Roll call…I can get out whenever I likes, Miss. Locks don’t mean nothing to me. Get out and walk around the grounds just for the fun of it, I do.’
Gina said:
‘I wish you’d stop telling lies, Ernie.’
‘Who’s telling lies?’
‘You are. You tell lies and you boast about things that you’ve never done at all.’
‘That’s what you say, Miss. You wait till the coppers come round and arsk me all about what I saw last night.’
‘Well, what did you see?’
‘Ah,’ said Ernie, ‘wouldn’t you like to know?’
Gina made a rush at him and he beat a strategic retreat. Stephen came over from the other side of the theatre and joined Gina. They discussed various technical matters and then, side by side, they walked back towards the house.
‘They all seem to know about Grandam and the chocs,’ said Gina. ‘The boys, I mean. How do they get to know?’
‘Local grapevine of some kind.’
‘And they knew about Alex’s card. Stephen, surely it was very stupid to put Alex’s card in the box when he was actually coming down here.’
‘Yes, but who knew he was coming down here? He decided to come on the spur of the moment and sent a telegram. Probably the box was posted by then. And if he hadn’t come down, putting his card in would have been quite a good idea. Because he does send Caroline chocolates sometimes.’
He went on slowly:
‘What I simply can’t understand is — ’
‘Is why anyone should want to poison, Grandam,’ Gina cut in. ‘I know. It’s inconceivable! She’s so adorable — and absolutely everyone does adore her.’
Stephen did not answer. Gina looked at him sharply.
‘I know what you’re thinking, Steve!’
‘I wonder.’
‘You’re thinking that Wally — doesn’t adore her. But Wally would never poison anyone. The idea’s laughable.’
‘The loyal wife!’
‘Don’t say that in that sneering tone of voice.’
‘I didn’t mean to sneer. I think you are loyal. I admire you for it. But darling Gina, you can’t keep it up, you know.’
‘What do you mean, Steve?’
‘You know quite well what I mean. You and Wally don’t belong together. It’s just one of those things that doesn’t work. He knows it too. The split is going to come any day now. And you’ll both be much happier when it has come.’
Gina said:
‘Don’t be idiotic.’
Stephen laughed.
‘Come now, you can’t pretend that you’re suited to each other or that Wally’s happy here.’
‘Oh, I don’t know what’s the matter with him,’ cried Gina. ‘He sulks the whole time. He hardly speaks. I — I don’t know what to do about him. Why can’t he enjoy himself here? We had such fun together once — everything was fun — and now he might be a different person. Why do people have to change so?’
‘Do I change?’
‘No, Steve darling. You’re always Steve. Do you remember how I used to tag round after you in the holidays?’
‘And what a nuisance I used to think you — that miserable little kid Gina. Well, the tables are turned now. You’ve got me where you want me, haven’t you, Gina?’
Gina said quickly:
‘Idiot.’ She went on hurriedly, ‘Do you think Ernie was lying?