She’d no use for young Edgar. He was ridiculous, pompous, and at bottom fundamentally unsure of himself.
He wanted to impress, and he only succeeded in looking silly. It wouldn’t mean anything to her that the poor fellow suffered a lot.’ ‘Are you suggesting that Edgar Lawson is in love with Mrs Hudd?’ asked Inspector Curry.
Stephen replied cheerfully: ‘Oh yes. As a matter of fact we all are, more or less! She likes us that way.’ ‘Does her husband like it?’ ‘He takes a dim view. He suffers, too, poor fellow. The thing can’t last, you know. Their marriage, I mean. It will break up before long. It was just one of these war affairs.’ ‘This is all very interesting,’ said the Inspector. ‘But we’re getting away from our subject, which is the murder of Christian Gulbrandsen.’ ‘Quite,’ said Stephen. ‘But I can’t tell you anything about it. I sat at the piano, and I didn’t leave the piano until dear Jolly came in with some rusty old keys and tried to fit one to the lock of the study door.’
‘You stayed at the piano. Did you continue to play the piano?’
‘A gentle obbligato to the life and death struggle in Lewis’s study? No, I stopped playing when the tempo rose. Not that I had any doubts as to the outcome. Lewis has what I can only describe as a dynamic eye. He could easily break up Edgar just by looking at him.’
‘Yet Edgar Lawson fired two shots at him.’ Stephen shook his head gently.
‘Just putting on an act, that was. Enjoying himself. My dear mother used to do it. She died or ran away with someone when I was four, but I remember her blazing off with a pistol if anything upset her. She did it at a night club once. Made a pattern on the wall. She was an excellent shot. Quite a bit of trouble she caused. She was a Russian dancer, you know.’
‘Indeed. Can you tell me, Mr Restarick, who left the Hall yesterday evening whilst you were there – during the relevant time?’
‘Wally – to fzx the lights. Juliet Believer to find a key to fit the study door. Nobody else, as far as I know.’ ‘Would you have noticed if somebody did?’ Stephen considered.
‘Probably not. That is, if they just tiptoed out and back again. It was so dark in the Hall – and there was the fight to which we were all listening avidly.’
‘Is there anyone you are sure was there the whole time?’
‘Mrs Serrocold – yes, and Gina. I’d swear to them.’ ‘Thank you, Mr Restarick.’ Stephen went towards the door. Then he hesitated and came back.
‘What’s all this,’ he said, ‘about arsenic?’ ‘Who mentioned arsenic to you?’ ‘My brother.’ ‘Ah – yes.’ Stephen said: ‘Has somebody been giving Mrs Serrocold arsenic?’ ‘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 Serro-cold 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, [he 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.