While the Light Lasts - Agatha Christie [56]
Clayton and he had had a drink together at the club just before half-past seven, and Clayton had then announced his intention of looking in on Major Rich on his way to Euston.
‘What was Mr Clayton’s manner? Was he depressed or cheerful?’
The major considered. He was a slow-spoken man.
‘Seemed in fairly good spirits,’ he said at last.
‘He said nothing about being on bad terms with Major Rich?’
‘Good Lord, no. They were pals.’
‘He didn’t object to–his wife’s friendship with Major Rich?’
The major became very red in the face.
‘You’ve been reading those damned newspapers, with their hints and lies. Of course he didn’t object. Why, he said to me: “Marguerita’s going, of course.”’
‘I see. Now during the evening–the manner of Major Rich–was that much as usual?’
‘I didn’t notice any difference.’
‘And madame? She, too, was as usual.’
‘Well,’ he reflected, ‘now I come to think of it, she was a bit quiet. You know, thoughtful and faraway.’
‘Who arrived first?’
‘The Spences. They were there when I got there. As a matter of fact, I’d called round for Mrs Clayton, but found she’d already started. So I got there a bit late.’
‘And how did you amuse yourselves? You danced? You played the cards?’
‘A bit of both. Danced first of all.’
‘There were five of you?’
‘Yes, but that’s all right, because I don’t dance. I put on the records and the others danced.’
‘Who danced most with whom?’
‘Well, as a matter of fact the Spences like dancing together. They’ve got a sort of craze on it–fancy steps and all that.’
‘So that Mrs Clayton danced mostly with Major Rich?’
‘That’s about it.’
‘And then you played poker?’
‘Yes.’
‘And when did you leave?’
‘Oh, quite early. A little after midnight.’
‘Did you all leave together?’
‘Yes. As a matter of fact, we shared a taxi, dropped Mrs Clayton first, then me, and the Spences took it on to Kensington.’
Our next visit was to Mr and Mrs Spence. Only Mrs Spence was at home, but her account of the evening tallied with that of Major Curtiss except that she displayed a slight acidity concerning Major Rich’s luck at cards.
Earlier in the morning Poirot had had a telephone conversation with Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard. As a result we arrived at Major Rich’s rooms and found his manservant, Burgoyne, expecting us.
The valet’s evidence was very precise and clear.
Mr Clayton had arrived at twenty minutes to eight. Unluckily Major Rich had just that very minute gone out. Mr Clayton had said that he couldn’t wait, as he had to catch a train, but he would just scrawl a note. He accordingly went into the sitting-room to do so. Burgoyne had not actually heard his master come in, as he was running the bath, and Major Rich, of course, let himself in with his own key. In his opinion it was about ten minutes later that Major Rich called him and sent him out for cigarettes. No, he had not gone into the sitting-room. Major Rich had stood in the doorway. He had returned with the cigarettes five minutes later and on this occasion he had gone into the sitting-room, which was then empty, save for his master, who was standing by the window smoking. His master had inquired if his bath were ready and on being told it was had proceeded to take it. He, Burgoyne, had not mentioned Mr Clayton, as he assumed that his master had found Mr Clayton there and let him out himself. His master’s manner had been precisely the same as usual. He had taken his bath, changed, and shortly after, Mr and Mrs Spence had arrived, to be followed by Major Curtiss and Mrs Clayton.
It had not occurred to him, Burgoyne explained, that Mr Clayton might have left before his master’s return. To do so, Mr Clayton would have had to bang the front door behind him and that the valet was sure he would have heard.
Still in the same impersonal manner, Burgoyne proceeded to his finding of the body. For the first time my attention