In fact she said as much, remarking after a
moment’s reflection: “I have never had anything
to do with a poisoning case before.”
“It’s not very pleasant,” Neele informed
her dryly.
“No–I suppose not. . . .”
She thought about it for a moment and then
looked up at him with a sudden smile.
“I didn’t do it,” she said. “But I suppose
everybody will tell you that!”
“Have you any idea who did do it. Miss
Dove?”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“Frankly, he was an odious man. Anybody
might have done it.”
“But people aren’t poisoned just for being
‘odious,’ Miss Dove. There usually has to be
a pretty solid motive.”
“Yes, of course.”
She was thoughtful.
44
“Do you care to tell me something about
the household here?”
She looked up at him. He was a little
startled to find her eyes cool and amused.
“This isn’t exactly a statement you’re
asking me to make, is it? No, it couldn’t be, because your Sergeant is busy upsetting the
domestic staff. I shouldn’t like to have what I
say read out in court–but all the same I
should rather like to say it–unofficially. Off
the record, so to speak?”
“Go ahead then. Miss Dove. I’ve no witness, as you’ve already observed.”
She leaned back, swinging one slim foot
and narrowing her eyes.
“Let me start by saying that I’ve no feeling
of loyalty to my employers. I work for them
because it’s a job that pays well and I insist
that it should pay well.”
“I was a little surprised to find you doing
this type of job. It struck me that with your
brains and education—-”
“I ought to be confined in an office? Or
compiling files in a Ministry? My dear
Inspector Neele, this is the perfect racket.
People will pay anything– anything– to be
spared domestic worries. To find and engage
a staff is a thoroughly tedious job. Writing to
45
agencies, putting in advertisements, interviewing
people, making arrangements for
interviews, and finally keeping the whole
thing running smoothly–it takes a certain
capacity which most of these people haven’t
got.”
“And suppose your staff when you’ve
assembled it, runs out on you? I’ve heard of
such things.”
Mary smiled.
“If necessary, I can make the beds, dust the
rooms, cook a meal and serve it without anyone
noticing the difference. Of course I don’t
advertise that fact. It might give rise to ideas.
But I can always be sure of tiding over any
little gap. But there aren’t often gaps. I work
only for the extremely rich who will pay
anything to be comfortable. I pay top prices
and so I get the best of what’s going.”
“Such as the butler?”
She threw him an amused, appreciative
glance.
“There’s always that trouble with a couple.
Crump stays because of Mrs. Crump, who is
one of the best cooks I’ve ever come across.
She’s a jewel and one would put up with a
good deal to keep her. Our Mr. Fortescue
likes his food–liked, I should say. In this
46
household nobody has any scruples and they
have plenty of money. Butter, eggs, cream,
Mrs. Crump can command what she likes. As
for Crump, he just makes the grade. His
silver’s all right, and his waiting at table is
not too bad. I keep the key of the wine cellar
and a sharp eye on the whisky and gin, and
supervise his valeting.”
Inspector Neele raised his eyebrows.
“The admirable Miss Crichton.” <