She looked down again at her bag, which stood at risk of being twisted into a knot. 'And, well, that was it really. I'm not normally so wicked or foolish, Inspector, you mustn't think that. Does Bernard have to know? I'd really rather he didn't, if possible.'
'Felix smiled and shook his head. ' I'll do my best to avoid it, Mrs Austin. One can't approve of attempted larceny, of course, or is it fraud? But I think we can overlook it, under the circumstances. It was brave of you to come and tell me, and I'm most grateful. Can I ask you what the time was, when all this happened?'
'It was twelve-fifteen or so when I got up and about ten minutes later when I got back to our room. By our little travel clock anyway.'
'And you say the library was in darkness?'
'Yes, sort of. It was really quite dark along the corridor, but once in there – in the library, I mean – it was brightly moonlit, and I could easily have picked up a book, though I probably couldn't have read the titles, but I wanted to show anyone who might be watching that what I was doing was open and above board, so I put a table-lamp on.'
'Yes, I understand. So can I take it there was no-one in there, when you went in?
'Oh no.' She hesitated. 'At least. . . I don't think so. You can't see the whole room from the door, and I did think I heard something for a moment. And I said, "Is there anyone there?" Not loudly, because I felt a bit silly, what with the lights being off and because I didn't want whoever was in Uncle's room to hear, but no-one answered. Old houses make all sorts of noises at night, don't they? So I expect it was that.'
'Yes, they do. Now, I know this is an alarming thought, Mrs Austen, but your uncle was, of course, found dead in the library. Are you absolutely sure in your own mind that he wasn't sitting there when you looked in? It's particularly important because we need to know exactly when he died.'
Emily abandoned the comfort of her handbag sufficiently put a hand to her mouth. 'Goodness, I hadn't thought! No, I'm sure he wasn't. I saw him dead in the chair – we all did – and he was perfectly visible from the door. No, he definitely wasn't there. How awful if he had been!'
'Well I'm glad he wasn't, for your sake,' said Felix kindly. 'It would certainly have been a shock for you. And coming back to Sir Jasper's rooms, are there any clues at all to whom it might have been in there? The size of the shadow, a fragment of speech, the sound of something being moved or used?'
Emily shook her head. 'No, not really. No-one said anything – not while I was there anyway – and the shadow wasn't even person-shaped. But it could have been the murderer, couldn't it? Oh dear, it makes me quite shivery to think about it.'
Felix smiled sympathetically. 'I'm sure it must do. Can you tell me if it was a room-light casting the shadow? What I mean is, was the light itself moving, or someone moving in front of it? Could it have been a moving torch or something of that sort?'
'Why yes, it could have been a torch, or a lamp. In fact, I suppose it was more like a torch or a lamp than a room-light as it wasn't very bright. It wasn't bright enough for a gaslight, certainly. But I was really only there for a second or two, so I can't be sure.'
'All right. Well if you think of anything later, I'd very much like to know. And did you encounter anyone else during your little adventure?'
Emily gave a wan smile. 'No, no-one.'
'Now, Mrs Austen, this is important. During the time you were in the new wing, did you hear anything that could be interpreted as a gunshot?'
'Goodness! I suppose one would hear it, wouldn't one? I hadn't thought. But no, nothing like that. It was very quiet.'
'And Mr Austen remained asleep through all this?'
'Oh yes, dead to the world. I tell him he'd sleep through an earthquake. I didn't go off very quickly afterwards, I was too strung out, and I was still vaguely awake when Tony and Roger started fighting because I lay there listening and wondering what was going on, but eventually it stopped and I could hear other people's voices and then I must have gone to sleep because I didn't wake again until the morning.
'Pretty lady,' said Felix. 'Embarrassment suits her colouring.'
'And a devoted helpmeet,' chuckled Rattigan. 'That dull fellow doesn't deserve her.'
'Unfortunately it poses more questions than it answers. Assuming, of course, she didn't just frighten herself into seeing things.'
'If it was Jasper in there, would he have left the door unlocked?'
'He might have done. It was quite late and he might have felt secure in doing so. However, it seems unlikely that he'd have used a torch. If that's what she saw, I'd favour an intruder I think, possibly while Jasper was hiding in his bedroom.'
'Who could, of course, have been the murderer. Might he have been shot in his own apartment, do you think?'
'I've wondered about that. But there's no evidence for it, and what would they have gained by dumping him in the library? He was a big chap to move about.'
'To make sure he was found? Someone with an alibi set up might have wanted him discovered while time of death could still be established. If he was killed in his rooms, he could easily have lain there for days before he was discovered, by which time it would have been difficult to know when it happened. Moving him would also deflect suspicion from anyone who had a key to his apartment, since only a few would have had access to one.'
Felix nodded thoughtfully. 'Those are very good points, Teddy. And thinking about it, if he needed to be moved, that wheelchair might have served very well, provided they could get him into it. We'd best get Paul to dab it. Meanwhile I think we'll interview the servants again in some depth. If it wasn't Jasper in there, a servant seems the most likely — guilty or innocent.'
'Sorry to drag you back, Miss, er . . . ' said Felix. 'I'm sorry, I don't think we caught your surname.'
'Mrs Finch, sir,' said Doris. 'My husband was killed in the war.'
'I'm very sorry to hear that, Mrs Finch. Have you been here ever since?'
'Just about, sir. I was quite lucky in that regard as he left me with nothing. He was a hero to his country, so they said, but never much use to me. How can I help you?'
'Just tell me, if you will, what you did last night, say from after dinner. I'm not accusing you of anything; I just need to know where everyone was at that time, including the servants.'
'Let's see now,' said Doris contemplatively. 'Well, the usual really. After we served at dinner and cleared away, we helped wash up. Me and Nettie, that is. We haven't got a kitchen maid so we all mucks in. Then we had our own meal in the servants' hall, while Sarah cleaned and tidied in the great hall.'
'Is that the outside maid?'
'Yes, sir. She does evenings.'
'When does she leave?'
'She goes at ten, when Mr Fudge locks up.'
'Were all the resident servants at dinner together last night?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Are you sure?'
'Yes, sir, quite sure. There's only the five of us, so we'd soon miss one! Then I chatted to the others and read a bit until bedtime.'
'Which was when?'
'I went up at about eleven, sir.'
'Straight to sleep?'
'Oh yes, I always do.'
'You didn't hear anything of last night's excitement?'
'No, sir, nothing. I'm right at the end of the attic floor and sleeps heavy, so mightn't expect to.'
'Obviously a clear conscience then. So if I were to ask if you were in Sir Jasper's apartment late last night, what would you say?'
'I'd say, no! And I shouldn't have cared to be, thinking him dead and all. I'm funny like that. Did someone go in there, then?'
'We're told they did but we don't know who it was.'
'Well it wasn't me. And it wasn't Nettie neither. That I do know.'
'How do you know that? It was well after eleven.'
'She'd have told me if she had. Anyway, she was asleep on her feet by ten-thirty. She went up before me. They haven't the stamina, these youngsters, have they?'
'Mr Fudge, thank
you for sparing the time to see me. Cigarette?'
'Thank you, Inspector, but I do not indulge,' said the butler. 'How may I help you?'
'Well, I'd like to ask you, if I may, about your movements yesterday evening. Just for elimination purposes, you understand. But first, we have reason to believe that some unknown person was in Sir Jasper's apartment late last night. Was it you by any chance?'
Mr Fudge shook his head. 'No, sir. We were forbidden to go anywhere near it, and to my knowledge no-one did so. Neither were we allowed to use the maids' room next door.'
'Why do you suppose Sir Jasper forbade you the maids' room?'
'It was to avoid anyone happening upon him while he was using the backstairs, sir. They give access not only to the kitchens but also to the cellars and thence to other parts of the house.'
'From where Sir Jasper could covertly observe his guests?'
'I regret to say that is so, sir.' He paused for a moment. 'I should not wish you to think Miss Matthews or myself approved of that, sir. We did not. May I ask: might it not have been Sir Jasper himself, in his apartment?'
'It might have been of course. Did you like him?'
'I should prefer not to express an opinion, sir.'
'Fair enough. Now, strictly speaking I ought also to consider the outside staff. Can you tell me if any of them had access to the house at night? Did any of them hold a key?'
'No, sir. And I locked and bolted all the doors at ten as I normally do. The key remained in my possession until this morning.'
'Suppose anyone wants to get in or out?'
'They have only to ring the service bell, sir.'
'What about keys to Sir Jasper's flat. Where might an intruder have obtained one?'
'Sir Jasper had one, sir, and another is kept in the key-cupboard in the servants' hall. That one is currently in its place; I checked earlier. In addition, Nettie Betts has her own bundle, as she has the cleaning of the upstairs rooms.'
'Yes, I suppose she would have. In view of that, I think I'd best speak to her.'
'I will send her to you, Inspector.'
'Mr Fudge, I don't wish to embarrass you, but were you required to smuggle Sir Jasper into the house, prior to the funeral?'
'I let him in, sir, yes. It was arranged that he should return late on the Tuesday night.'
'And you must have given him provisions from time to time?'
'He provided his own, to avoid suspicion. However, I left milk for him daily, in the cellar.'
'Thank you. And returning to last night, could you just tell me roughly where you were, perhaps from about dinnertime?'
Fudge sat in thought. 'At approximately seven-thirty, sir, our part-time maid, Sarah, arrived and I spoke to her about what needed to be done. In addition, our footman, Jessop, is currently indisposed, having taken a chill, and I was obliged to undertake his duties, fetching items for the ladies and so on.'
'The footman lives out?'
'Yes, sir. He is married to Sarah. I was also asked to telephone to certain people on the behalf of members of the family, their not being permitted to do so themselves under the rules of the competition. I then had to report back as required. When dinner began, I served the wine and afterwards coffee. I then liaised with Miss Matthews and Cook regarding tomorrow's order with the grocer and butcher, after which we sat down to our evening meal. At ten o'clock I bid Sarah goodnight and locked and bolted all the outside doors, as I have mentioned, before serving tea and coffee to those that wanted it. I remained in attendance until everyone had gone upstairs, then I checked all the downstairs rooms, put out any forgotten lights, and turned in myself.'
'But not for long?'
'Not for very long, sir. At approximately one-fifteen I was awakened by hard words and the clashing of swords. My rooms are on the ground floor, sir, so I was fortunate to enter the great hall at the moment Mr Tony FitzGreville received his injury. I immediately took it upon myself to telephone to Dr Crowther. Having seen the doctor off the premises, I waited until everyone had returned upstairs, again put out the lights and retired once more to bed.'
'And at any time last night, did you hear a gunshot or something that might have been one?'
'I do not believe so, sir.'
'Thank you, Mr Fudge. Your energy puts me to shame. Did you kill Sir Jasper?'
Showing no discernable emotion, the old butler stood up. 'No, sir, I did not.' At the door, he turned back. 'Nettie is very young, Inspector.'
'I'll bear that in mind.'
Greeting the little maid at the door, Felix led her to a chair and brought his own round beside her. 'Now then, Miss Betts, may I call you Nettie?'
'If you like, sir,' said Nettie complacently. 'Most people do.'
'Good. How old are you, Nettie?'
'Sixteen, sir.'
'This your first job?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Well look here. If you're disposed to feel nervous, please don't be. We may appear big and fierce but we are, in fact, as harmless as doves, aren't we, Sergeant?'
Nettie raised a cynical eyebrow. 'And wise as serpents, I dare say. What would you like to know, sir.'
Felix laughed. 'It's a bible scholar we have, Teddy! Let us hope she remembers the ninth commandment, eh? Now, we're interviewing all the servants in case any of you can help to throw a light on Sir Jasper's death. And the first thing I must ask is, did you go into Sir Jasper's apartment last night?'
Nettie shook her head. 'No sir, we'd been told to keep away, on account of him being dead — out of respect.'
'So you didn't go in there?'
'No, sir. I had no reason to anyway.'
'Did you really believe he was dead?'
'Yes, sir, I did. I've never had to do with dead people before this morning, so I didn't know what to expect; though I did think Mr Fudge and Miss Matthews were behaving rather queerly about it, and Doris thought so too. Of course, we know why now.'
'Did you like Sir Jasper?'
Nettie shrugged. 'Not very much. I thought him a foolish old man, always trying to kiss me and so on. It was a terrible shock though, finding him shot like that.'
'But you've recovered now?'
'Oh yes, sir. Quite.'
Felix sat back and studied her. 'Do you like working here, Nettie?'
'It's all right. I just wanted to leave home.'
'Why was that?'
'I don't like my stepfather, sir.'
'I see. Are you planning to stay?'
'No, sir. I've got another position.' She looked suddenly discomfitted. 'But they don't know that here, sir. Not yet.'
'Well I shan't tell them. Respectable position?'
'Oh yes, sir. Very respectable.'
'Good. I hope you'll be happy there. To whom did you lend Sir Jasper's apartment keys?'
Nettie coloured. 'No-one, sir!'
'Nettie, I'm a police inspector — wise as a serpent. Who was it?'
'I didn't, sir! Not to anyone, I swear!'
'I see. That's your story, and you're sticking to it?'
'It's not a story. I never did!'
Felix sighed and stood up. 'All right. Get along with you then. And if you're going to break that commandment you'd better put some practice in; you're terrible at it.'
Nettie paused at the door. 'Well I didn't anyway!'
'Miss Beaufort-Smyth?' suggested Rattigan.
'Why her?' snapped Felix. He paced the room for a moment or two. 'Sorry, Teddy. That was uncalled for.'
'I know how you feel, sir, but it's pretty obvious she's been offered a job by someone in the house, either as an inducement, or for services rendered. Jobs are hard to find these days, and when would she have had the chance to go looking for one?'
'It doesn't have to be Vanda.'
'Who else would it be? Mrs Austen seems unlikely under the circumstances, Mrs FitzGreville is a shrew, and the Colonel and his wife probably wouldn't appeal much either. And what young girl wouldn't want to work for a famous actress? She's so excited about it
she couldn't keep it in.'
'Well damn her to perdition!' growled Felix and went to the door. 'Constable, kindly fetch me Roger FitzGreville and Vanda Beaufort Smyth.'
'Together, sir?'
'Yes, together.'
For a while Felix sat and glowered silently at them. It was Vanda who spoke first.
'Did she tell you?'
'I'm afraid I can't answer that.'
Roger took out a cigarette and lit it. He appeared calm enough, but Felix noted his hands were slightly shaking. It was always lighting a cigarette that gave them away.
'Felix, I know how it must look, but I didn't shoot my uncle. I hoped to find the location of that confounded token, that's all. I never saw him. Nor did it occur to me that he might be alive. I found nothing useful and after a few minutes I got cold feet and left. It was a foolish idea and I take full responsibility for it. Miss Beaufort-Smyth had nothing to do with it.'
'Then perhaps you'd care to —' began Felix sternly.
But Vanda forestalled him. 'I'm not having that! No, Roger, I'm not! Miles, I was there. We both were. We went together and we came away together. And, of course, it was I who borrowed the key. Afterwards I gave it back. We looked in all the rooms except the bedroom, which was locked. We didn't have a key for that. Then we thought we heard someone coming in and got frightened. Well, I did anyway. So we left.'
'When was this? When did you arrive and leave?'
'It was soon after twelve when we got there and we were only there a few minutes. Afterwards we were together, talking, until Roger went to the bathroom. I could hear him in there; it's next door. Minutes later I heard him fighting with Tony. He never had a chance to shoot Sir Jasper; it wouldn't have been possible.'
A Strange Manor of Death (The Inspector Felix Mysteries Book 3) Page 13
