The two cousins do not seem much alike,” observed the Inspector.
“Indeed not,” said Jane with a smile. “George is the picture of the attentive soul. He left university to care for his mother and then he came here and he gave great aid to uncle, and it was thankless work, I assure you. Robert, on the other hand, is hard to dislike, but has never met any labor from which he could not slip away from. Had he been in the place of Atlas, the earth would surely have fallen from the sky.”
Percy chortled at the picture of Robert Hardwick as a shiftless Atlas. Grey scowled at him a bit and went on.
“Now, Miss Grafton, I see that you have been a resident of the hall for some ten years, since your parents passed.”
“That is only partially true, Inspector. My father is still alive.”
“Indeed?” said Grey, with arched eyebrows. “Grissom, did you not tell me Miss Grafton had been orphaned?”
The Chief Constable seemed very uncomfortable and did not reply right away. As he shifted from foot to foot, Jane Grafton jumped in.
“Inspector, Constable Grissom has been here for many years and he knows the true story. It is simply that it is an embarrassing one and the family has enjoyed pretending that it never happened. I would wager that most of the village believes the story you have been told, but this is no time to protect reputations, even if it has nothing to do with the crime.”
We all waited as she gathered her composure.
“After my mother passed on,” she began, “father was at sixes and sevens. He began a tawdry affair with a tavern wench and she became in the family way. Uncle John was in a towering rage about it. He felt father and the woman had disgraced the family. He gave father what money he needed to leave the country and he, and the woman, left for India where they remain. He has been ostracized from the family ever since. Sir John felt that what the two of them had done was unforgivable. He was quite beside himself on the point and would hear nothing of father afterwards.”
“So you have a sibling, then.” I said gently.
“No, Mr. Holmes. I heard afterwards that father’s new wife had a miscarriage on the voyage to the east. If there is nothing else, gentlemen.”
The lady made as if to rise, and I saw her eyes were moist with tears. To my surprise, I saw Percy dabbing his eyes as well. She was permitted by the Inspector to leave. As she did so, Chief Constable Grissom patted her gently on the shoulder as she passed him by. Once the door was closed Grey gave a snort.
“It would seem we discovered nothing, except the presence of a family skeleton,” he said. “Every family has them, I suppose, however, you might have enlightened me, Grissom, rather than allow me to repeat an untruth.”
“It is as the lady said, Inspector,” said Grissom. “It has been so long in the telling, I had nearly forgotten that it was a mere tale.”
“There is no harm done, Grissom. I can hardly see how she could have been a guilty party.”
“I agree that she is not a likely suspect, but I would not exclude her entirely, Inspector,” said I. “She has no real alibi.”
“But she does, Mr. Holmes,” said Grissom. “As you recall, I talked to the grounds staff personally. Not only did they say no one had been on the grounds, but I questioned them specifically about the north side of the home where the open window was found. They saw no one approach it.”
“That is not exactly what they said, Chief Constable,” I replied. “They said they noticed no strangers. That is quite a different thing than seeing no one.”
“Mr. Holmes, do you mean to say that Miss Grafton might have walked around to the open window of the music room without any of the grounds staff noticing?” cried Grey.
“Not simply Miss Grafton,” said I. “Miss Stuart could have done the same. We have only her word she was in the secretary’s room the entire time. Indeed, we have only Miss Hardwick’s word that she was in the great hall the entire time in question. Why, even someone like Percy here might have strolled the grounds without attracting attention.”
“I don’t know, Mr. Holmes,” said the Inspector slowly. “I suppose it is possible, of course, but it is hardly a foolproof plan. There would always be the possibility that the staff would notice anyone not in the guise of a gardener and remember that fact. Then the culprit would be exposed.”
“There is much in what you say, Inspector Grey. Indeed I find myself in agreement. A gardener could have done it easily, but what motive would a gardener have?”
“I fear we have gotten somewhat far a field here, gentlemen, into the realm of mere theory,” said Grey, with importance. “What we need are solid facts in order to solve this foul crime.”
“I will not gainsay you there, sir,” I replied.
Grissom was stirring impatiently and spoke out “Inspector, if I may, I believe that we have allowed ourselves to lose track of what I believe is still the most likely explanation.”
“Speak your mind, Grissom,” said Grey. “I am not a martinet. What is your idea?”
“Simply this, sir. I’m a plain man and plain thinking is what I do. I do not hold for elaborate theories.” I rather fancied that he shot me a glance as he spoke. “So I feel I must speak. I know the people of Hardwick Hall well, and they could never have done this thing. I believe that the most likely perpetrator of this crime was a miscreant from outside of the house. They came in through the window, just as it appeared that they did, and they left in the same manner. They were trying to open the safe to steal the Spider Diamond and Sir John came into the room and caught them in they act. Desperate to make an escape, the person grabbed the club from the wall and murdered Sir John. Then horrified at what they had done, they left through the window. It fits the facts of the case and if the grounds staff did not notice anyone, it is because they were busy at their work.”
“I have not excluded that theory, Grissom,” said Grey. “I am having the roads watched. If a stranger attempts to leave the area it will be known to us.”
“Gentlemen, all precautions should be taken, of course, but the stranger theory has one large problem,” I stated.
“And what is that, Mr. Holmes?” asked the Inspector.
“That all the doors to the music room were closed, of course.”
“But, Mr. Holmes, what does that matter?” asked Grissom. “Surely the killer closed them when they left.”
“No, Constable, that will not do. If the person who was trying to open the safe had been a stranger, when Sir John walked in he would not have shut the door behind him.”
“Well, perhaps he didn’t, Mr. Holmes, and it was closed later, as Grissom says,” Grey said.
“No, Inspector. Had that been the case then Miss Hardwick would have heard the struggle from the great hall, and Robert and George Hardwick would have heard it from the conservatory. No, gentlemen, Sir John closed the door himself because he knew the person in the music room and he was not afraid. More’s the pity, for his misjudgment of the person’s character, as it cost him his life.”
Chapter Sixteen
“My word, Mr. Holmes, when you state it like that you are undeniably correct,” said Grey, with admiration. “You do have a way of cutting to the quick of the matter. What say you, Grissom? Are we now agreed with Mr. Holmes’s view of this crime?”
“I know enough to throw in a losing hand, Inspector,” said Grissom amiably. “Mr. Holmes has seemed to narrow the field for us, though I am hard pressed to lay my finger on the culprit.”
“Fear not, gentlemen,” said I. “We still have to speak to the two male Hardwicks. Let us not leave the field with arrows yet in our quiver.”
The two men were ushered in by the Constable and they sat on one of the sofas, though at opposite ends from one another. George Hardwick looked squarely at the Inspector.
“Well, Grey, have you made any progress?” he asked.
“Somewhat, Mr. Hardwick, somewhat,” replied the Inspector, with a slight grimace. “I do have some questions for you two men.”
&nbs
p; “Before we begin, may I ask by what right Percy and his friend are here? Surely they are not officials and neither is a family member.”
I saw Percy smile tightly at his cousin’s veiled insult.
“They are here because I desire it, sir,” replied Inspector Grey evenly. “Mr. Holmes has shown great aptitude in this case and young Hardwick and he were not on the site of the crime, so they are not suspected.”
“And we are? What rot,” said George. “Grey, you know very well that the culprit left by the window before we discovered the body. You are wasting time here. You should be combing the countryside.”
“That possibility has not been completely discounted, but indulge me if you will by answering my questions.”
“We are happy to answer any questions, though I dare say we know little of any aid to you,” said Robert Hardwick. “George is generally useless and in this instance, even more so.”
“Must you jibe at me even in these circumstances, Robert?” asked George, with exasperation.
“Be thankful that the circumstances are as they are, George. Were it not for me, you would have no alibi for the death of uncle.”
“As if I need an alibi, you bounder! Who would ever suspect me of a crime? You, on the other hand, have sailed very close to the wind in your life. Be thankful that you have me for an alibi.”
George Hardwick had grown visibly angry at the words of his cousin and now was leaning forward on the sofa with his fists clenched.
“Gentlemen, please,” said Grey. “Let us concentrate on the events of the day. Now, following the midday meal everyone, save Sir John, gathered in the great hall.”
Grey waited for an affirmation, but none came except for Robert nodding his head in agreement.
“Fine. Who left the hall first?”
“Well, I suppose George and myself, Inspector,” said Robert. George grunted what the Inspector took to be a yes.
“Did not Miss Stuart arise at the same time to leave?” I asked.
“Well, now that you say it, I suppose she did. George and I made our pardons and as we were leaving she was too,” said George. “Is the exact chronology so important?”
“Minutes may count,” said Grey, as he reassumed the questioning. “So by your testimony Miss Hardwick and Miss Grafton were the last in the hall. When Miss Grafton left some minutes afterwards did either of you observe her exit the manor?”
“I am sorry, Inspector, but the table on which we set up our game is not visible from the entrance hall,” said Robert.
“But surely you heard her open and close the door?” asked the Inspector.
“Perhaps we did, but I do not recall it,” said George. “Robert, can you remember?”
“I fear not,” he replied. “We were already engaged in our little competition. I did however, hear her in the flower bed outside the window. Surely it follows that she must have left.”
“It is a small matter. I am simply attempting to assure myself of everyone’s movements. Now, I ask plainly, did either of you leave the conservatory before the cry was raised? Even for a minute, I ask you?”
“I can speak for my cousin,” responded George. “We never left our seats.”
“Well, that is not exactly true, George, if we are going to be sticklers for accuracy,” said Robert. “We each left our seats at times.”
“What’s this?” cried the Inspector.
“Calm yourself, Inspector,” said Robert, with a grin. “I merely meant that each of us, at one time, arose from the table to pour a glass of water from the carafe on the sideboard. We are also both in the habit of walking to the other side of the board to see how the game is being played out from that vantage. Surely you have seen players do this?”
“I am familiar with the game, gentlemen,” said Grey. “But you are certain that, perhaps during a minute of concentration neither of you could have left the room unobserved by the other.”
“Absolute rot,” said George Hardwick stoutly. “Nonsense I say.”
“I am forced to agree with my cousin,” said Robert. “As much as I would like to slip the hangman’s noose about his neck, he did not leave the room and neither did I.”
I saw that George Hardwick was again tempted to upbraid his cousin for his flippancy, but thought better of it and turned his attention to the Inspector.
“I hope you can now see the folly of your focus upon the family. I cannot see for the life of me why you are still here.”
“Mr. Hardwick,” began the Inspector in a lecturing tone, “suspects in a murder are identified by those who may have had a motive to kill. An inheritance is a strong motive to do so.”
“But that is silly, Inspector,” protested George Hardwick. “Uncle was to be married and any promised inheritance would surely be diminished if not gone by that event.”
“Then time was certainly of the essence, Mr. Hardwick,” said Grey. “Do not pretend it has not occurred to you.”
“Do you mean to say that murder was meant this day, and not mere burglary? That is madness, Grey. Why, if I, or anyone, had set out to deliberately murder uncle, then a shot in the woods whilst he was riding would do the trick. Why murder the man during the middle of the day in the manor?”
“I do not say that murder was meant, only that it comes at a convenient time for yourself and your cousins,” said the Inspector.
“I still say it is poppycock,” said a sullen George Hardwick.
“Now, as to background, both of you men have lived in the hall for sometime, I take it?”
“Yes, many years, Inspector. Father passed when I was young and I left Cambridge to take care of mother when she took ill. Upon her passing uncle was good enough to allow me to live on the estate, and to award me a generous allowance. In return, I have acted as sometime secretary, and sometime estate agent,” explained George.
“And fulltime lickspittle,” essayed Robert Hardwick.
“By thunder, Robert,” said George, as he made as if to rise from his seat.
“None of that,” cried the Inspector. George Hardwick remained seated and Grey turned his attention to Robert.
“Now you, sir, you have also been a resident of the hall for some years.”
“That is so, Inspector. My mother died in childbirth and father was lost to malaria in India.”
“I had no idea your mother died when you were a baby, Robert,” said Percy. “You never told me.”
“I met a fellow reading classics at Trinity who told me, that to lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune, but to lose both appears as carelessness. Dratted witty fellow. I cannot remember his name,” said Robert, with a grin.
“But I understand you did not attend university yourself, Mr. Hardwick,” said I.
“That is true. I tramped around the continent a bit before uncle invited me here. It was the one kind thing anyone has ever done for me,” he said, with sincerity.
“And more the fool he was for it,” spit George Hardwick. “Uncle was a fool to propose to that filly and he was doubly a fool to invite a wastrel like yourself into this home. Damn him to hell I say for his folly!”
Robert Hardwick’s face turned black with rage and he flew at his cousin. Before anyone could react, he had struck George Hardwick a savage blow to the temple. His cousin reeled backwards as Robert was restrained by Inspector Grey and Chief Constable Grissom. Robert was still raging at his cousin, and it was quite some few minutes before order was restored.
“Constable, remove Mr. Hardwick to the library and wait for my call,” said Inspector Grey finally.
Grissom took the arm of the man, who seemed to have gathered control of himself, and they left the hall. George Hardwick had seated himself again on the sofa and was just a bit glassy eyed, but he assured the Inspector that he would be fine. He asked to be excused to his room and the Inspector granted his request. In a few moments the occupants of the room were reduced to the Inspector, Percy, and myself. The Inspector drew a deep sigh, as he lit a cigarette for himself.
“It would seem we have done little more than narrow the time of the crime, though we already had a rough idea of it,” he said.
“And what is the time interval you estimate, Inspector?” I asked.
“Why, obviously between one fifteen approximately and two o’ clock when the body was discovered.”
“I believe that we can narrow it down even more than that, my dear Inspector,” I said. “Remember, we have only Hudson’s word that he discovered the body at two o’ clock and I believe that he has lied to us about the timing of his movements.”
“As I have said, Mr. Holmes, I have noticed you are quite observant, but what makes you say he has been untruthful? Surely, you do not suspect him of the crime.”
“No, I do not suspect him in the murder.”
“Then why would he lie?”
“Inspector, men lie for all sorts of reasons; some big and some small. I suspected Hudson of withholding information immediately upon our return to the house, but we have also overlooked a vital point. Hudson says that he called upon his master just before two, and finding his room vacant came down the back stairs looking for him. He crossed through the drawing room to the music room, yet Miss Hardwick did not see him do so.”
“But, Mr. Holmes, did you not prove that it could be easily missed by the lady?”
“Yes, but don’t you see, Inspector, that a servant is just what would stand out during that time,” I stated. “The staff is forbidden the living quarters during that hour and any servant would stand out to any observer. Even if she was paying little attention, Miss Hardwick would subconsciously be aware that a servant should not be walking through the drawing room.”
“I don’t know, Mr. Holmes,” said the Inspector doubtfully. “Then where did Hudson come from?”
“He was already in the drawing room.”
“What was he doing in the drawing room?”
“Inspector, there is a high backed sofa in that room. Percy and I were seated in it just a few hours ago. When Chief Constable Grissom came to call for us he could not see us before we stood up, as the sofa faces the window. I believe that Hudson makes regular use of that sofa between one and two as a day bed for a clandestine nap.”
The Spider Web (A Sherlock Holmes Uncovered Tale Book 4) Page 10
