Agatha Christie - Hickory Dickory Dock

"You do realise, Mr. Chapman, that the person who could most easily have taken some of that poison out of the bottle and substituted something else for it, was yourself?" Nigel looked at him, his face suddenly hard and haggard.

"Yes," he said. "I've seen that just a minute and a half ago. I could have done just exactly that. But I'd no reason on earth for putting that girl out of the way, Inspector, and I didn't do it. Still, there it is-I quite realise that you've only got my word for it." The story of the bet and the disposal of the poison was confirmed by Len Bateson and by Colin McNabb. Sharpe retained Colin McNabb after the others had gone.

"I don't want to cause you more pain than I can help, Mr. McNabb," he said. "I can realize what it means to you for your fiancée to have been poisoned on the very night of your engagement."

"There'll be no need to go into that aspect of it," said Colin McNabb, his face immovable.

"You'll not need to concern yourself with my feelings. Just ask me any questions you like which you think may be useful to you."

"It was your considered opinion that Celia Austin's behaviour had a psychological origin?"

"There's no doubt about it at all", said Colin McNabb. "If you'd like me to go into the theory of the thing…"

"No, no," said Inspector Sharpe, hastily.

"I'm taking your word for it as a student of psychology."

"Her childhood had been particularly unfortunate. It had set-up an emotional block…"

"Quite so, quite so." Inspector Sharpe was desperately anxious to avoid hearing the story of yet another unhappy childhood. Nigel's had been quite enough.

"You had been attracted to her for some time?"

"I would not say precisely that," said Colin, considering the matter conscientiously. "These things sometimes surprise you by the way they dawn upon you suddenly, like. Subconsciously no doubt, I had been attracted, but I was not aware of the fact.

Since it was not my intention to marry young I had no doubt set up a considerable resistance to the idea in my conscious mind."

"Yes. Just so. Celia Austin was happy in her engagement to you? I mean, she expressed no doubts? Uncertainties? There was nothing she felt she ought to tell you?"

"She made a very full confession of all she'd been doing. There was nothing more in her mind to worry her."

"And you were planning to get married-whenough?"

"Not for a considerable time. I'm not in a position, at comthe moment, to support a wife."

"Had Celia any enemy here? Anyone who did not like her?"

"I can hardly believe so. I've given that point of view a great deal of thought, Inspector.

Celia was well liked here. I'd say, myself, it was not a personal matter at all which brought about her end."

"What do you mean by'not a personal matter'?"

"I do no-t wish to be very precise at the moment. It's only a vague kind of idea I have and I'm not clear about it myself." From that position the Inspector could not budge him. The last two students to be interviewed were Sally Finch and Elizabeth Johnston. The Inspector took Sally Finch first.

Sally was an attractive girl with a mop of red hair and eyes that were bright and intelligent. After routine enquiries Sally Finch suddenly took the initiative.

"D'you know what I'd like to do, Inspector?

I'd like to tell you just what I think. I personally.

There's something all wrong about this house, something very wrong indeed. I'm sure of that."

"You mean because Celia Austin was poisoned?"

"No, I mean before that. I've been feeling it for some time. I didn't like the things that were going on here.

I didn't like that rucksack which was slashed about and I didn't like Valerie's scarf being cut to pieces.

I didn't like Black Bess's notes being covered with ink. I was going to get out of here and get out quick. That's what I still mean to do, as soon, that is, as you let us go." Sally nodded her head.

"You mean you're afraid of something, Miss Finch?"

"Yes, I'm afraid. There's something or someone here who's pretty ruthless. The whole place isn't-well, how shall I put it?-it isn't what it seems. No, no, Inspector, I don't mean Communists. I can see that just trembling on your lips. It's not Communists I mean. Perhaps it isn't even criminal. I don't know. But I'll bet you anything you like that awful old woman knows about it all."

"What old woman? You mean Mrs. Hubbard?"

"No. Not Ma Hubbard. She's a dear. I mean old Nicoletis. That old she-wolf."

"That's interesting, Miss Finch. Can you be more definite? About Mrs. Nicoletis, I mean." Sally shook her head.

"No. That's just what I can't be. All I can tell you is she gives me the creeps every time I pass her. Something queer is going on here, Inspector."

"I wish you could be a little more definite."

"So do I. You'll be thinking I'm fanciful.

Well, perhaps I am, but other people feel it too.

Akibombo does. He's scared. I believe Black Bess does, too, but she wouldn't let on. And I think, Inspector, that Celia knew something about it."

"Knew something about what?"

"That's just it. What? But there were things she said.

Said that last day. About clearing everything up. She had owned up to her part in what was going on, but she sort of hinted that there were other thing she knew about and she wanted to get them cleared up too. I think she knew something, Inspector, about someone.

That's the reason I think she was killed."

"But if it was something as serious as that…

Sally interrupted him. "I'd say that she had no idea how serious it was. She wasn't bright, you know. She was pretty dumb. She got hold of something but she'd no idea that the something she'd got hold of was dangerous.

Anyway, that's my hunch for what it's worth."

"I see. Thank you… Now the last time you saw Celia Austin was in the Common Room after dinner last night, is that right?"

"That's right. At least, actually, I saw her after that."

"You saw her after that? Where? In her room?"

"No. When I went up to bed she was going out of the front door just as I came out of the Common Room."

"Going out of the front door? Out of the house, do you mean?"

"Yes."

"That's rather surprising. Nobody else has suggested that."

"I daresay they didn't know. She certainly said good night and that she was going up to bed, and if I hadn't seen her I would have assumed that she had gone up to bed."

"Whereas, actually, she went upstairs, put on some outdoor things and then left the house. Is that right?" Sally nodded.

"And I think she was going out to meet someone."

"I see. Someone from outside. Or could it have been one of the students?"

"Well it's my hunch that it would be one of the students. You see, if she wanted to speak to somebody privately, there was nowhere very well she could do it in the house. Someone might have suggested that she come out and meet them somewhere outside."

"Have you any idea when she got in again?"

"No idea whatever."

"Would Geronimo know, the man servant?"

"He'd know if she came in after eleven o'clock because that's the time he bolts and chains the door. Up to that time anyone can get in with their own key."

"Do you know exactly what time it was when you saw her going out of the house?"

"I'd say it was about-ten. Perhaps a little past ten, but not much."

"I see. Thank you, Miss Finch, for what you've told me." Last of all the Inspector talked to Elizabeth Johnston. He was at once impressed with the quiet capability of the girl. She answered his questions with intelligent decision and then waited for him to proceed.

"Celia Austin," he said, "pretested vehemently that it was not she who damaged your papers, Miss Johnston. Do you believe her?"

"I do not think Celia did that. No."