Agatha Christie - They Do It With Mirrors

'When?'

'I walked up from the station. He was watching from the house and came out to meet me. It was then that he explained what had brought him here.'

'Business connected with the Gulbrandsen Institute, I suppose?'

'Oh no, it was nothing to do with the Gulbrandsen Institute.'

'Miss Bellever seemed to think it was.'

'Naturally. That would be the assumption. Gulbrandsen did nothing to correct that impression. Neither did I.'

'Why, Mr Serrocold?' Lewis Serrocold said slowly: 'Because it seemed to both of us important that no hint should arise as to the real purpose of his visit.'

'What was the real purpose?' Lewis Serrocold was silent for a minute or two. He sighed.

'Gulbrandsen came over here regularly twice a year for meetings of the trustees. The last meeting was only a month ago. Consequently he was not due to come over again for another five months. I think, therefore, that anyone might realize that the business that brought him must definitely be urgent business, but I still think that the normal assumption would be that it was a business visit, and that the matter, however urgent - would be a Trust matter. As far as I know, Gulbrandsen did nothing to contradict that impression - or thought he didn't. Yes, perhaps that is nearer the truth - he thought he didn't.'

'I'm afraid, Mr Serrocold, that I don't quite follow you.' Lewis Serrocold did not answer at once. Then he said gravely: 'I fully realize that with Gulbrandsen's death - Which was murder, undeniably murder, I have got to put all the facts before you. But frankly, I am concerned for my wife's happiness and peace of mind. It is not for me to dictate to you, Inspector, but if you can see your way to keeping certain things from her as far as possible I shall be grateful. You see, Inspector Curry, Christian Gulbrandsen came here expressly to tell me that he believed my wife was being slowly and cold-bloodedly poisoned.'

'What?' Curry leaned forward incredulously.

Serrocold nodded.

'Yes, it was, as you can imagine, a tremendous shock to me. I had had no suspicion of such a thing myself, but as soon as Christian told me, I realized that certain symptoms my wife had complained of lately were quite compatible with that belief. What she took to be rheumatism, leg cramps, pain, and occasional sickness.

All that fits in very well with the symptoms of arsenical poisoning.'

'Miss Marple told us that Christian Gulbrandsen asked her about the condition of Mrs Serrocold's heart.'

'Did he now? That's interesting. I suppose he thought that a heart poison would be used since it paved the way to a sudden death without undue suspicion. But I think myself that arsenic is more likely.'

'You definitely think, then, that Christian Gulbrandsen's suspicions were well founded?'

'Oh yes, I think so. For one thing, Gulbrandsen would hardly come to me with such a suggestion unless he was fairly sure of his facts. He was a cautious and hardheaded man, difficult to convince, but very shrewd.'

'What was his evidence?'

'We had no time to go into that. Our interview was a hurried one. It served only the purpose of explaining his visit, and a mutual agreement that nothing whatever should be said to my wife about the matter until we were sure of our facts.'

'And whom did he suspect of administering poison?'

'He did not say, and actually I don't think he knew. He may have suspected. I think now that he probably did suspect - otherwise why should he be killed?'

'But he mentioned no name to you?'

'He mentioned no name. We agreed that we must investigate the matter thoroughly, and he suggested inviting the advice and co-operation of Dr Galbraith, the Bishop of Cromer. Dr Galbraith is a very old friend of the Gulbrandsens and is one of the trustees of the Institute.

He is a man of great wisdom and experience and would be of infinite help and comfort to my wife if - if it was necessary to tell her of our suspicions. We meant to rely on his advice as to whether or not to consult the police.'

'Quite extraordinary,' said Curry.

'Gulbrandsen left us after dinner to write to Dr Galbraith. He was actually in the act of typing a letter to him when he was shot.'

'How do you know?' Lewis said calmly: 'Because I took the letter out of the typewriter. I have it here.' From his breast pocket, he drew out a folded typewritten sheet of paper and handed it to Curry.

The latter said sharply: 'You shouldn't have taken this, or touched anything in the room.'

'I touched nothing else. I know that I committed an unpardonable offence in your eyes in moving this, but I had a very strong reason. I felt certain that my wife would insist on coming into the room and I was afraid that she might read something of what is written here. I admit myself in the wrong, but I am afraid I would do the same again. I would do anything - anything - to save my wife unhappiness.' Inspector Curry said no more for the moment. He read the typewritten sheet.

Dear Dr Galbraith. If it is at all possible, I beg that you will come to Stonygates as soon as you receive this. A crisis of extraordinary gravity has arisen and I am at a loss how to deal with it. I know how deep your affection is for our dear Carrie Louise, and how grave your concern will be for anything that affects her. How much has she got to know?

How much can we keep from her? Those are the questions that I find difficult to answer.

Not to beat about the bush, I have reason to believe that that sweet and innocent lady is being slowly poisoned. I first suspected this when-

Here the letter broke off abruptly.

Curry said: 'And when he had reached this point Christian Gulbrandsen was shot?'

'Yes.'

'But why on earth was this letter in the typewriter?'

'I can only conceive of two reasons - one, that the murderer had no idea to whom Gulbrandsen was writing and what was the subject of the letter. Secondly - he may not have had time. He may have heard someone coming and only had just time to escape unobserved.'

'And Gulbrandsen gave you no hint as to whom he suspected - if he did suspect anyone?'

There was, perhaps, a very slight pause before Lewis answered.

'None whatever.'

He added, rather obscurely:

'Christian was a very fair man.'

'How do you think this poison, arsenic or whatever it may be - was or is being administered?'

'I thought over that whilst I was changing for dinner and it seemed to me that the most likely vehicle was some medicine, a tonic, that my wife was taking. As regards food, we all partake of the same dishes and my wife has nothing specially prepared for her. But anyone could add arsenic to the medicine bottle.'

'We must take the medicine and have it analysed.' Lewis said quietly:

'I already have a sample of it. I took it this evening before dinner.'

From a drawer in the desk he took out a small corked bottle with a red fluid in it.

Inspector Curry said with a curious glance:

'You think of everything, Mr Serrocold.'

'I believe in acting promptly. Tonight, I stopped my wife from taking her usual dose. It is still in a glass on the oak dresser in the Hall - the bottle of tonic itself is in the dining-room.' Curry leaned forward across the desk. He lowered his voice and spoke confidentially and without officialdom.

'You'll excuse me, Mr Serrocold, but just why are you so anxious to keep this from your wife? Are you afraid she'd panic? Surely, for her own sake, it would be as well if she were warned.'

'Yes - yes, that may well be so. But I don't think you quite understand. Without knowing my wife Caroline, it would be difficult. My wife, Inspector Curry, is an idealist, a completely trustful person. Of her it may truly be said that she sees no evil, hears no evil, and speaks no evil. It would be inconceivable to her that anyone could wish to kill her. But we have to go farther than that. It is not just "anyone." It is a case - surely you see that - of someone possibly very near and dear to her…'