Agatha Christie - They Do It With Mirrors

'Why should you mention Mrs Serrocold?'

'I've read of the symptoms of arsenical poisoning.

Peripheral neuritis, isn't it? It would square more or less with what she's been suffering from lately. And then Lewis snatching away her tonic last night. Is that what's been going on here?'

'The matter is under investigation,' said Inspector Curry in his most official manner.

'Does she know about it herself?.'

'Mr Serrocold was particularly anxious that she should not be - alarmed.'

'Alarmed isn't the right word, Inspector. Mrs Serrocold is never alarmed… Is that what lies behind Christian Gulbrandsen's death? Did he find out she was being poisoned - but how could he find out? Anyway, the whole thing seems most improbable. It doesn't make sense.'

'It surprises you very much, does it, Mr Restarick?'

'Yes, indeed. When Alex spoke to me I could hardly believe it.'

'Who, in your opinion, would be likely to administer arsenic to Mrs Serrocold?' For a moment a grin appeared upon Stephen Restarick's handsome face.

'Not the usual person. You can wash out the husband. Lewis Serrocold's got nothing to gain. And also he worships that woman. He can't bear her to have an ache in her little finger.'

'Who then? Have you any idea?'

'Oh yes. I'd say it was a certainty.'

'Explain, please.' Stephen shook his head.

'It's a certainty psychologically speaking. Not in any other way. No evidence of any kind. And you probably wouldn't agree.' Stephen Restarick went out nonchalantly, and Inspector Curry drew cats on the sheet of paper in front of him.

He was thinking three things. A, that Stephen Restarick thought a good deal of himself; B, that Stephen Restarick and his brother presented a united front; and C, that Stephen Restarick was a handsome man where Walter Hudd was a plain one.

He wondered about two other things - what Stephen meant by 'psychologically speaking' and whether Stephen could possibly have seen Gina from his seat at the piano. He rather thought not.

Into the Gothic gloom of the library, Gina brought an exotic glow. Even Inspector Curry blinked a little at the radiant young woman who sat down, leaned forward over the table and said expectantly, 'Well?' Inspector Curry, observing her scarlet shirt and dark green slacks, said drily: 'I see you're not wearing mourning, Mrs Hudd?'

'I haven't got any,' said Gina. 'I know everyone is supposed to have a little black number and wear it with pearls. But I don't. I hate black. I think it's hideous, and only receptionists and housekeepers and people like that ought to wear it. Anyway Christian Gulbrandsen wasn't really a relation. He's my grandmother's stepson.'

'And I suppose you didn't know him very well?' Gina shook her head.

'He came here three or four times when I was a child, but then in the war I went to America, and I only came back here to live about six months ago.'

'You have definitely come back here to live? You're not just on a visit?'

'I haven't really thought,' said Gina.

'You were in the Great Hall last night, when Mr Gulbrandsen went to his room?'

'Yes. He said goodnight and went away. Grandam asked if he had everything he wanted and he said yes that Jolly had fixed him up fine. Not those words, but that kind of thing. He said he had letters to write.'

'And then?' Gina described the scene between Lewis and Edgar Lawson. It was the same story that Inspector Curry had by now heard many times, but it took an added colour, a new gusto, under Gina's handling. It became drama.

'It was Wally's revolver,' she said. 'Fancy Edgar's having the guts to go and pinch it out of his room. I'd never have believed he'd have the guts.'

'Were you alarmed when they went into the study and Edgar Lawson locked the door?'

'Oh no,' said Gina, opening her enormous brown eyes very wide. 'I loved it. It was so ham, you know, and so madly theatrical. Everything Edgar does is always ridiculous.

One can't take him seriously for a moment.'

'He did fire the revolver, though?'

'Yes. We all thought then that he'd shot Lewis after'

'And did you enjoy that?' Inspector Curry could not refrain from asking.

'Oh no, I was terrified, then. Everyone was, except Grandam. She never turned a hair.'

'That seems rather remarkable.'

'Not really. She's that kind of person. Not quite in this world. She's the sort of person who never believes anything bad can happen. She's sweet.'

'During all this scene, who was in the Hall?'

'Oh we were all there. Except Uncle Christian, of course.'

'Not all, Mrs Hudd. People went in and out.'

'Did they?' asked Gina vaguely.

'Your husband, for instance, went out to fix the lights.'

'Yes. Wally's great at fixing things.'

'During his absence, a shot was heard, I understand. A shot that you all thought came from the Park?'

'I don't remember that… Oh yes, it was just after the lights had come on again and Wally had come back.'

'Did anyone else leave the Hall?'

'I don't think so. I don't remember.'

'Where were you sitting, Mrs Hudd?'

'Over by the window.'

'Near the door to the library?'

'Yes.'

'Did you yourself leave the Hall at all?'

'Leave? With all the excitement? Of course not.' Gina sounded scandalized by the idea.

'Where were the others sitting?'

'Mostly round the fireplace, I think. Aunt Mildred was knitting and so was Aunt Jane - Miss Marple, I mean. Grandam was just sitting.'

'And Mr Stephen Restarick?'

'Stephen? He was playing the piano to begin with. I don't know where he went later.'

'And Miss Bellever?'

'Fussing about, as usual. She practically never sits down. She was looking for keys or something.' She said suddenly: 'What's all this about Grandam's tonic? Did the chemist make a mistake in making it up or something?'

'Why should you think that?'

'Because the bottle's disappeared, and Jolly's been fussing round madly looking for it, in no end of a stew. Alex told her the police had taken it away. Did you?'

Instead of replying to the question, Inspector Curry said: 'Miss Bellever was upset, you say?'

'Oh! Jolly always fusses,' said Gina carelessly. 'She likes fussing. Sometimes I wonder how Grandam can stand it.'

'Just one last question, Mrs Hudd. You've no ideas yourself as to who killed Christian Gulbrandsen and why?'

'One of the queers did it, I should think. The thug ones are really quite sensible. I mean they only cosh people so as to rob a till or get money or jewellery - not just for fun.

But one of the queers - you know, what they call mentally maladjusted - might do it for fun, don't you think?

Because I can't see what other reason there could be for killing Uncle Christian except fun, do you? At least I don't mean fun, exactly - but '

'You can't think of a motive?'

'Yes, that's what I mean,' said Gina gratefully. 'He wasn't robbed or anything, was he?'

'But you know, Mrs Hudd, the College buildings were locked and barred. Nobody could get out from there without a pass.'

'Don't you believe it,' Gina laughed merrily. 'Those boys could get out from anywhere! They've taught me a lot of tricks.'

'She's a lively one,' said Lake when Gina had departed. 'First time I've seen her close to. Lovely figure, hasn't she. Sort of a foreign figure, if you know what I mean.'

Inspector Curry threw him a cold glance. Sergeant Lake said hastily that she was a merry one. 'Seems to have enjoyed it all, as you might say.'

'Whether Stephen Restarick is right or not about her marriage breaking up, I notice that she went out of her way to mention that Walter Hudd was back in the Great Hall before that shot was heard.'

'Which, according to everyone else, isn't so?'

'Exactly.'

'She didn't mention Miss Bellever leaving the Hall to look for keys, either.'