He really believed it, you see. I persuaded him to let me give him a sedative and I put him to bed in the dressing-room. Then I had a good look round. I found a note that Helen had left crumpled up in the wastepaper basket in the drawing-room. It was quite clear. She had written something like this: ‘This is Good-bye. I’m sorry– but our marriage has been a mistake from the beginning. I’m going away with the only man I’ve ever loved. Forgive me if you can. Helen.’ “Evidently Kelvin had come in, read her note, gone upstairs, had a kind of emotional brainstorm and had then come over to me persuaded that he had killed Helen.
“Then I questioned the housemaid. It was her evening out and she had come in late. I took her into Helen’s room and she went through Helen’s clothes, etc. It was all quite clear. Helen had packed a suitcase and a bag and had taken them away with her. I searched the house, but there was no trace of anything unusual — certainly no sign of a strangled woman.
“I had a very difficult time with Kelvin in the morning, but he realised at last that it was a delusion — or at least he said he did, and he consented to go into a nursing home for treatment.
“A week later I got, as I say, a letter from Helen. It was posted from Biarritz, but she said she was going on to Spain. I was to tell Kelvin that she did not want a divorce. He had better forget her as soon as possible.
“I showed the letter to Kelvin. He said very little. He was going ahead with his plans. He wired out to his first wife’s people in New Zealand asking them to take the child. He settled up his affairs and he then entered a very good private mental home and consented to have appropriate treatment.
That treatment, however, did nothing to help him. He died there two years later. I can give you the address of the place. It’s in Norfolk. The present Superintendent was a young doctor there at the time, and will probably be able to give you full details of your father’s case.” Gwenda said: “And you got another letter from your sister — after that again?” “Oh yes. About six months later. She wrote from Florence — gave an address poste restante as ‘Miss Kennedy5. She said she realised that perhaps it was unfair to Kelvin not to have a divorce — though she herself did not want one. If he wanted a divorce and I would let her know, she would see that he had the necessary evidence. I took the letter to Kelvin. He said at once that he did not want a divorce. I wrote to her and told her so. Since then I have never heard any more. I don’t know where she is living, or indeed if she is alive or dead.
That is why I was attracted by your advertisement and hoped that I should get news of her.” He added gently: “I’m very sorry about this, Gwennie. But you had to know. I only wish you could have left well alone…”
9 UNKNOWN FACTOR?
WHEN Giles came back from seeing Dr. Kennedy off, he found Gwenda sitting where he had left her. There was a bright red patch on each of her cheeks, and her eyes looked feverish.
When she spoke her voice was harsh and brittle.
“What’s the old catchphrase? Death or madness either way? That’s what this is — death or madness.” “Gwenda — darling.” Giles went to her —put his arm round her. Her body felt hard and stiff.
‘•Why didn’t we leave it all alone? Why didn’t we? It was my own father who strangled her. And it was my own father’s voice I heard saying those words. No wonder it all came back—no wonder I was so frightened. My own father.” ‘Wait, Gwenda — wait. We don’t really know — ” “Of course we know! He told Dr.
Kennedy he had strangled his wife, didn’t he?” “But Kennedy is quite positive he didn’t — ” “Because he didn’t find a body. But there was a body — and I saw it.” “You saw it in the hall — not the bedroom.” “What difference does that make?” “Well, it’s queer, isn’t it? Why should Halliday say he strangled his wife in the bedroom if he actually strangled her in the hall?” “Oh, I don’t know. That’s just a minor detail.” “I’m not so sure. Pull your socks up, darling. There are some very funny points about the whole set-up. We’ll take it, if you like, that your father did strangle Helen.