The voice struck Inspector Neele as slightly
alcoholic.
“Are you the butler?”
“That’s right.”
“Mr. Fortescue has been taken seriously
ill.”
“I know. They rung up and said so. But
there’s nothing I can do about it. Mr. Val’s
away up North and Mrs. Fortescue’s out
playing golf. Mrs. Val’s gone up to London
but she’ll be back for dinner and Miss
Elaine’s out with her Brownies.”
“Is there no one in the house I can speak to
about Mr. Fortescue’s illness? It’s
important.”
“Well–I don’t know.” The man sounded
23
doubtful. “There’s Miss Ramsbottom–but
she don’t ever speak over the phone. Or
there’s Miss Dove–she’s what you might call
the ‘ousekeeper.”
“I’ll speak to Miss Dove, please.”
“I’ll try and get hold of her.”
His retreating footsteps were audible
through the phone. Inspector Neele heard no
approaching footsteps but a minute or two
later a woman’s voice spoke.
“This is Miss Dove speaking.”
The voice was low and well poised, with
clear-cut enunciation. Inspector Neele formed
a favourable picture of Miss Dove.
“I am sorry to have to tell you. Miss Dove,
that Mr. Fortescue died in St. Jude’s Hospital
a short time ago. He was taken suddenly ill in
his office. I am anxious to get in touch with
his relatives—-”
“Of course. I had no idea—-” She broke
off. Her voice held no agitation, but it was
shocked. She went on: “It is all most unfortunate.
The person you really want to get in
touch with is Mr. Fercival Fortescue. He
would be the one to see to all the necessary
arrangements. You might be able to get in
touch with him at the Midland in Manchester
or possibly at the Grand in Leicester.
24
Or you might try Shearer and Bonds of
Leicester. I don’t know their telephone
number, I’m afraid, but I know they are a
firm on whom he was going to call and they
might be able to inform you where he would
be likely to be to-day. Mrs. Fortescue will
certainly be in to dinner and she may be in to
tea. It will be a great shock to her. It must
have been very sudden? Mr. Fortescue was
quite well when he left here this morning.”
“You saw him before he left?”
“Oh yes. What was it? Heart?”
“Did he suffer from heart trouble?”
“No—no—I don’t think so—— But I
thought as it was so sudden——” She broke
off. “Are you speaking from St. Jude’s
Hospital? Are you a doctor?”
“No, Miss Dove, I’m not a doctor. I’m
speaking from Mr. Fortescue’s office in the
city. I am Detective-Inspector Neele of the
C.I.D. and I shall be coming down to see you
as soon as I can get there.”
“Detective Inspector? Do you mean—what
do you mean?”
“It was a case of sudden death. Miss Dove,
and when there is a sudden death we get called
to the scene, especially when the deceased
25
man hasn’t seen a doctor lately–which I
gather was the case?”
It was only the faintest suspicion of a
question mark but the young woman responded.
“I know. Percival made an appointment
twice for him but he wouldn’t keep it. He was
quite unreasonable–they’ve all been
worried—-”
She broke off and then resumed in her former
assured manner:
“If Mrs. Fortescue returns to the house
before you arrive, what do you want me to
tell her?”
Practical as they make ’em, thought
Inspector Neele.
Aloud he said:
“Just tell her that in a case of sudden death
we have to make a few inquiries. Routine
inquiries.”
He hung up.
26
3
NEELE pushed the telephone away
and looked sharply at Miss Griffith.
“So they’ve been worried about
him lately,” he said. “Wanted him to see a
doctor. You didn’t tell me that.”
“I didn’t think of it,” said Miss Griffith,
and added: “He never seemed to me really ill—-”
“Not ill-but what?”
“Well, just odd. Unlike himself. Peculiar
in his manner.”
“Worried about something?”
“Oh no, not worried. It’s we who were
worried—-”
Inspector Neele waited patiently.
“It’s difficult to say, really,” said Miss
Griffith. “He had moods, you know. Sometimes
he was quite boisterous. Once or twice,