Agatha Christie Read Free

objects which have been suddenly bereft of their dignity. Very carefully Colonel Melrose replaced it on its legs again. He struck the table a violent blow. The clock rocked, but it did not fall. Melrose repeated the action, and very slowly, with a kind of unwillingness, the clock fell over on its back.
    â€˜What time was the crime discovered?’ demanded Melrose sharply.
    â€˜Just about seven o’clock, sir.’
    â€˜Who discovered it?’
    â€˜The butler.’
    â€˜Fetch him in,’ said the chief constable. ‘I’ll see him now. Where is Lady Dwighton, by the way?’
    â€˜Lying down, sir. Her maid says that she’s prostrated and can’t see anyone.’
    Melrose nodded, and Inspector Curtis went in search of the butler. Mr Quin was looking thoughtfully into the fireplace. Mr Satterthwaite followed his example. He blinked at the smouldering logs for a minute or two, and then something bright lying in the grate caught his eye. He stooped and picked up a little sliver of curved glass.
    â€˜You wanted me, sir?’
    It was the butler’s voice, still quavering and uncertain. Mr Satterthwaite slipped the fragment of glass into his waistcoat pocket and turned round.
    The old man was standing in the doorway.
    â€˜Sit down,’ said the chief constable kindly. ‘You’re shaking all over. It’s been a shock to you, I expect.’
    â€˜It has indeed, sir.’
    â€˜Well, I shan’t keep you long. Your master came in just after five, I believe?’
    â€˜Yes, sir. He ordered tea to be brought to him here. Afterward, when I came to take it away, he asked for Jennings to be sent to him – that’s his valet, sir.’
    â€˜What time was that?’
    â€˜About ten minutes past six, sir.’
    â€˜Yes – well?’
    â€˜I sent word to Jennings, sir. And it wasn’t till I came in here to shut the windows and draw the curtains at seven o’clock that I saw –’
    Melrose cut him short. ‘Yes, yes, you needn’t go into all that. You didn’t touch the body, or disturb anything, did you?’
    â€˜Oh! No indeed, sir! I went as fast as I could go to the telephone to ring up the police.’
    â€˜And then?’
    â€˜I told Jane – her ladyship’s maid, sir – to break the news to her ladyship.’
    â€˜You haven’t seen your mistress at all this evening?’
    Colonel Melrose put the question casually enough, but Mr Satterthwaite’s keen ears caught anxiety behind the words.
    â€˜Not to speak to, sir. Her ladyship has remained in her own apartments since the tragedy.’
    â€˜Did you see her before?’
    The question came sharply, and everyone in the room noted the hesitation before the butler replied.
    â€˜I – I just caught a glimpse of her, sir, descending the staircase.’
    â€˜Did she come in here?’
    Mr Satterthwaite held his breath.
    â€˜I – I think so, sir.’
    â€˜What time was that?’
    You might have heard a pin drop. Did the old man know, Mr Satterthwaite wondered, what hung on his answer?
    â€˜It was just upon half past six, sir.’
    Colonel Melrose drew a deep breath. ‘That will do, thank you. Just send Jennings, the valet, to me, will you?’
    Jennings answered the summons with promptitude. A narrow-faced man with a catlike tread. Something sly and secretive about him.
    A man, thought Mr Satterthwaite, who would easily murder his master if he could be sure of not being found out.
    He listened eagerly to the man’s answers to Colonel Melrose’s questions. But his story seemed straightforward enough. He had brought his master down some soft hide slippers and removed the brogues.
    â€˜What did you do after that, Jennings?’
    â€˜I went back to the stewards’ room, sir.’
    â€˜At what time did you leave your master?’
    â€˜It must have been just after a quarter past six, sir.’
    â€˜Where