Джорджетт Хейер - Envious Casca

"He actually used those words?" demanded the Inspector.

"Those were his very words," replied Sturry solemnly, "I heard him with my own ears, being, as I have informed you, Upon the Point of bringing in the cocktails."

He fixed the Inspector with a glassy stare as he spoke. The Inspector, reading the message thus haughtily conveyed to him, quite understood that the butler had stood with his ear to the door during this painful altercation, and had no intention of admitting it. He nodded his comprehension, and asked: "Was it then that Mr. Herriard said that Mr. Stephen was as bad as his sister?"

"Immediately consequent upon Mr. Stephen's refusing to support his sister," said Sturry.

"Oh, he didn't support her?" said the Inspector, like a terrier with its nose to a rat-hole.

"Somewhat to my surprise, Inspector, no," Sturry replied. "Mr. Herriard, who was by that time in Quite a Taking, then turned on Mr. Stephen, if I may be permitted to use the expression."

"What happened next?"

"I could not say," answered Sturry, with a return to his cold reserve. "Following my entrance into the drawingroom, Mr. Stephen left it."

"And Mr. Herriard had told him that he wouldn't have him here any more?"

"That was what Mr. Herriard said."

"Had he said that before at any time?"

"Never, Inspector, to my knowledge. Quite remarkable it was, the way he put up with Mr. Stephen. It has been, I may say, a Wonder to us in the Hall."

The Inspector looked at him for a reflective moment. "Where were you between the time the deceased went upstairs and the time he was discovered dead in his room?"

"I was occupied about my Duties," replied Sturry, "between the dining-room and My Pantry."

"Did you see any of the guests during that period?"

"No, Inspector, but I have reason to believe that Mr. Herriard's valet and the second-housemaid can give you some information on this point."

"Well, you can send them in," said the Inspector. "I'll see the valet first. Has he been here long?"

"Only a matter of a few months," Sturry replied. "It was nott customary for the late Mr. Herriard's personal servants to remain long in his employment."

"Difficult master?"

"Mr. Herriard was very particular, and not, I regret to say, above throwing his shoes, or, upon occasion, even weightier articles at his valet, when his rheumatic complaints troubled him. Modern servants, as no doubt you are aware, do not Hold with that sort of thing."

"Doesn't seem to have bothered you," remarked the Inspector humorously.

"I need hardly say," said Sturry coldly, "that the late Mr. Herriard never so demeaned himself with Me."

He then withdrew in a very stately manner, softly closing the door behind him.

Ford, who, in a few minutes, presented himself, was looking a little scared. He would not admit that he had found Nathaniel a hard master; he seemed, instead, anxious to assure the Inspector that he had got on well with him, and had liked the place. Swallowing, he said, as though he had keyed himself up to it, that he had been upstairs between seven-thirty and eight-thirty, and had tried to enter his master's room. He thought that that would have been at ten to eight, or perhaps a little later. He had previously run a bath for Mr. Herriard, as was his custom, and had laid out his evening clothes.

"Why did you go back?" asked the Inspector.

"Mr. Herriard used very often to like me to help him to dress after his bath," explained Ford.

"Did you find the door locked?"

"Yes, Inspector."

"Did you knock?"

"Only the once," faltered the valet.

"Was there any answer?"

"No. But I didn't make anything of that, thinking Mr. Herriard might still be in his bath."

"Was it usual for Mr. Herriard to lock his door?"

"Not to say usual, Inspector, nor yet unusual. I have known him do it, if he was put out, or didn't wish to be disturbed."

"Well, what did you do?"

"I went away again."

"Where to?"

"Just along the upper hall to the sewing-room, meaning to wait a little while. Magpie - that's the second-housemaid - was in there, pressing a skirt, which Miss Paula had asked her to see to. And on my happening to pass the remark that the master had locked his door, she said she had seen Miss Paula only a minute or two before coming away from the door in her dressing-gown."

"She did, did she? Did you see anyone on the upper hall?"

"Not to say see them, Inspector, but when I came up the backstairs I heard a footstep in the hall, and as I came through the archway that leads to the back-landing I saw Mr. Roydon's door shut."

"Do you mean Mr. Roydon had just come upstairs to change?"

"Oh no, Inspector! Mr. Roydon had been in his room some little time, Magpie having seen him come up with Miss Paula, and the pair of them standing talking together just inside Miss Paula's room."

"I'll see this Magpie presently. How long did you stay in the sewing-room?"

"Well, I couldn't exactly say, Inspector, but I daresay it would have been twenty minutes or so."

"And during that time you didn't see anyone in the upper hall?"

"Well, I wasn't looking. I heard everyone go down that is, naturally I didn't count them, not knowing it might be important; but I remember hearing Mrs. Joseph Herriard come out of her room, and Miss Paula, because Miss Paula called to Mr. Roydon, and they went down together. Then I heard Miss Clare and Mr.. Joseph joking together, a few minutes later. Now I come to think of it, I don't remember hearing Mr. Mottisfont go down, nor Miss Dean; but I did hear Mr. Stephen, for he let his door bang. It was shortly after this that I began to think it was funny Mr. Herriard hadn't come out of his room."

"Oh, you knew he hadn't?"

"Well, I wouldn't say that exactly, but I'd had an ear cocked, as you might say, in case his bell should ring, which I could have heard in the sewing-room, the door being open, and the room just at the top of the backstairs. So I went along to try the door, and when I found it was still locked I took the liberty of calling to Mr. Herriard. Then, of course, he didn't answer, nor I couldn't hear a sound inside the room, and I began to get a bit scared. Several times I called, and never any answer. And then Mr. Joseph came up, and he called to Mr. Stephen, and Mr. Stephen and I, we broke the lock open, and found Mr. Herriard lying there." He ended with a shudder, and pressed his handkerchief to his lips. "Horrible, it was! I hope I may never have to see such a sight again!"

"The chances are you won't," the Inspector said unemotionally. "What did Mr. Joseph and Mr. Stephen do?"

"They thought at first he'd fainted, like I did myself. Mr. Stephen sent me off to fetch some brandy. By the time I'd come back, they'd discovered Mr. Herriard was dead. "That won't be wanted," Mr. Stephen said, meaning the brandy. "He's dead." I give you my word I nearly dropped the tray, it was such a shock to me!"

"Must have been a shock for Mr. Stephen and Mr. Joseph too," said the Inspector.

"Oh yes, it must indeed! Mr. Joseph was quite distracted, rubbing poor Mr. Herriard's hands, and seeming as though he couldn't believe he was dead. Very devoted to Mr. Herriard, he was."

"Was Mr. Stephen much upset?"

"Well, Inspector, Mr. Stephen's not one to wear his heart on his sleeve, as the saying is, but it stands to reason it must have upset him, particularly when he hadn't been on good terms with Mr. Herriard, by all accounts. He looked very white, and spoke to me very curt. He told me he could do with the brandy himself, and he took the tray out of my hands, and told me to go and ring up the doctor. Mr. Joseph was nearly crying, and he said not to speak of Mr. Herriard's death to anyone else. He was a bit upset by Mr. Stephen's manner, Mr. Stephen having a rough tongue, as anyone will tell you. But there's many as will cover up what they feel by a rough manner, and I didn't set any store by anything Mr. Stephen said, for I saw his hand shaking, and I could see he'd had a jolt. What's more, Mr. Stephen doesn't get on with Mr. Joseph, being cross grained, and never having liked Mr. Joseph's coming to live at Lexham, by all accounts. Mr. Joseph sort of brings out the worst in him, if you take my meaning."