加勒比海之谜(英文版)- 第13部分

〃But　enough　for　blackmail？〃

〃I　don't　know　that　I'd　even　call　it　that。　I　doubt　if　the　girl　would　even　understand　that　word。　Payment　for　being　discreet　isn't　thought　of　as　blackmail。　You　see；　some　of　the　people　who　stay　here　are　the　rich　playboy　lot　and　their　morals　won't　bear　much　investigation。〃　His　voice　was　slightly　scathing。

〃We　get　all　kinds；　I　agree；〃　said　Daventry。　〃A　woman；　maybe；　doesn't　want　it　known　that　she's　sleeping　around；　so　she　gives　a　present　to　the　girl　who　waits　on　her。　It's　tacitly　understood　that　the　payment's　for　discretion。〃

〃Exactly。〃

〃But　this；〃　objected　Daventry；　〃wasn't　anything　of　that　kind。　It　was　murder。〃

〃I　should　doubt；　though；　if　the　girl　knew　it　was　serious。　She　saw　something；　some　puzzling　incident；　something　to　do　presumably　with　this　bottle　of　pills。　It　belonged　to　Mr。　Dyson；　I　understand。　We'd　better　see　him　next。〃

Gregory　came　in　with　his　usual　hearty　air。

〃Here　I　am；〃　he　said；　〃what　can　I　do　to　help？　Too　bad　about　this　girl。　She　was　a　nice　girl。　We　both　liked　her。　I　suppose　it　was　some　sort　of　quarrel　or　other　with　a　man；　but　she　seemed　quite　happy　and　no　signs　of　being　in　trouble　about　anything。　I　was　kidding　her　only　last　night。〃

〃I　believe　you　take　a　preparation；　Mr。　Dyson；　called　Serenite？〃

〃Quite　right。　Little　pink　tablets。〃

〃You　have　them　on　prescription　from　a　physician？〃

〃Yes。　I　can　show　it　to　you　if　you　like。　Suffer　a　bit　from　high　blood　pressure；　like　so　many　people　do　nowadays。〃

〃Very　few　people　seem　to　be　aware　of　that　fact。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　go　talking　about　it。　Iwell；　I've　always　been　well　and　hearty　and　I　never　like　people　who　talk　about　their　ailments　all　the　time。〃

〃How　many　of　the　pills　do　you　take？〃

〃Two；　three　times　a　day。〃

〃Do　you　have　a　fairly　large　stock　with　you？〃

〃Yes。　I've　got　about　half　a　dozen　bottles。　But　they're　locked　up；　you　know；　in　a　suitcase。　I　only　keep　out　one；　the　one　that's　in　current　use。〃

〃And　you　missed　this　bottle　a　short　time　ago；　so　I　hear？〃

〃Quite　right。〃

〃And　you　asked　this　girl；　Victoria　Johnson；　whether　she'd　seen　it？〃

〃Yes；　I　did。〃

〃And　what　did　she　say？〃

〃She　said　the　last　time　she'd　seen　it　was　on　the　shelf　in　our　bathroom。　She　said　she'd　look　around。〃

〃And　after　that？〃

〃She　came　and　returned　the　bottle　to　me　some　time　later。　She　said　was　this　the　bottle　that　was　missing？〃

〃And　you　said？〃

〃I　said　'that's　it；　all　right；　where　did　you　find　it？'　And　she　said　it　was　in　old　Major　Palgrave's　room。　I　said　'how　on　earth　did　it　get　there？'〃

〃And　what　did　she　answer　to　that？〃

〃She　said　she　didn't　know；　but〃　he　hesitated。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Dyson？〃

〃Well；　she　gave　me　the　feeling　that　she　did　know　a　little　more　than　she　was　saying；　but　I　didn't　pay　much　attention。　After　all；　it　wasn't　very　important。　As　I　say；　I've　got　other　bottles　of　pills　with　me。　I　thought　perhaps　I'd　left　it　around　in　the　restaurant　or　somewhere　and　old　Palgrave　picked　it　up　for　some　reason。　Perhaps　he　put　it　in　his　pocket　meaning　to　return　it　to　me；　then　fot。〃

〃And　that's　all　you　know　about　it；　Mr。　Dyson？〃

〃That's　all　I　know。　Sorry　to　be　so　unhelpful。　Is　it　important？　Why！〃

Weston　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃As　things　are；　anything　may　be　important。〃

〃I　don't　see　where　pills　e　in。　I　thought　you'd　want　to　know　about　what　my　movements　were　when　this　wretched　girl　was　stabbed。　I've　written　them　all　down　as　carefully　as　I　can。〃

Weston　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。

〃Indeed？　That　was　very　helpful　of　you；　Mr。　Dyson。〃

〃Save　everybody　trouble；　I　thought；〃　said　Greg。　He　shoved　a　piece　of　paper　across　the　table。

Weston　studied　it　and　Daventry　drew　his　chair　a　little　closer　and　looked　over　his　shoulder。

〃That　seems　very　clear；〃　said　Weston；　after　a　moment　or　two。　〃You　and　your　wife　were　together　changing　for　dinner　in　your　bungalow　until　ten　minutes　to　nine。　You　then　went　along　to　the　terrace　where　you　had　drinks　with　Seсora　de　Caspearo。　At　quarter　past　nine　Colonel　and　Mrs。　Hillingdon　joined　you　and　you　went　in　to　dine。　As　far　as　you　can　remember；　you　went　off　to　bed　at　about　half　past　eleven。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Greg。　〃I　don't　know　what　time　the　girl　was　actually　killed？〃

There　was　a　faint　semblance　of　a　question　in　the　words。　Lieutenant　Weston；　however；　did　not　appear　to　notice　it。

〃Mrs。　Kendal　found　her；　I　understand？　Must　have　been　a　very　nasty　shock　for　her。〃

〃Yes。　Dr。　Robertson　had　to　give　her　a　sedative。〃

〃This　was　quite　late；　wasn't　it；　when　most　people　had　trundled　off　to　bed？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Had　she　been　dead　long？　When　Mrs。　Kendal　found　her；　I　mean？〃

〃We're　not　quite　certain　of　the　exact　time　yet；〃　said　Weston　smoothly。

〃Poor　little　Molly。　It　must　have　been　a　nasty　shock　for　her。　Matter　of　fact；　I　didn't　notice　her　about　last　night。　Thought　she　might　have　a　headache　or　something　and　was　lying　down。〃

〃When　was　the　last　time　you　did　see　Mrs。　Kendal？〃

〃Oh；　quite　early；　before　I　went　to　change。　She　was　playing　about　with　some　of　the　table　decorations　and　things。　Rearranging　the　knives。〃

〃I　see。〃

〃She　was　quite　cheerful　then；〃　said　Greg。　〃Kidding　and　all　that。　She's　a　great　girl。　We're　all　very　fond　of　her。　Tim's　a　lucky　fellow。〃

〃Well；　thank　you；　Mr。　Dyson。　You　can't　remember　anything　more　than　you've　told　us　about　what　the　girl　Victoria　said　when　she　returned　the　tablets？〃

〃No。。。　It　was　just　as　I　say。　Asked　me　were　these　the　tablets　I'd　been　asking　for。　Said　she'd　found　them　in　old　Palgrave's　room。〃

〃She'd　no　idea　who　put　them　there？〃

〃Don't　think　socan't　remember；　really。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Dyson。〃

Gregory　went　out。

〃Very　thoughtful　of　him；〃　said　Weston；　gently　tapping　the　paper　with　his　fingernail；　〃to　be　so　anxious　to　want　us　to　know　for　sure　exactly　where　he　was　last　night。〃

〃A　little　overanxious　do　you　think？〃　asked　Daventry。

〃That's　very　difficult　to　tell。　There　are　people；　you　know；　who　are　naturally　nervous　about　their　own　safety；　about　being　mixed　up　with　anything。　It　isn't　necessarily　because　they　have　any　guilty　knowledge。　On　the　other　hand　it　might　be　just　that。〃

〃What　about　opportunity？　Nobody's　really　got　much　of　an　alibi；　what　with　the　band　and　the　dancing　and　the　ing　and　going。　People　are　getting　up；　leaving　their　tables；　ing　back。　Women　go　to　powder　their　noses。　Men　take　a　stroll。　Dyson　could　have　slipped　away。　Anybody　could　have　slipped　away。　But　he　does　seem　rather　anxious　to　prove　that　he　didn't。〃　He　looked　thoughtfully　down　at　the　paper。　〃So　Mrs。　Kendal　was　rearranging　knives　on　the　table；〃　he　said。　〃I　rather　wonder　if　he　dragged　that　in　on　purpose。〃

〃Did　it　sound　like　it　to　you？〃

The　other　considered。　〃I　think　it's　possible。〃

Outside　the　room　where　the　two　men　were　sitting；　a　noise　had　arisen。　A　high　voice　was　demanding　admittance　shrilly。　〃I've　got　something　to　tell。　I've　got　something　to　tell。　You　take　me　in　to　where　the　gentlemen　are。　You　take　me　in　to　where　the　policeman　is。〃

A　uniformed　policeman　pushed　open　the　door。

〃It's　one　of　the　cooks　here；〃　he　said；　〃very　anxious　to　see　you。　Says　he's　got　something　you　ought　to　know。〃

A　frightened　dark　man　in　a　cook's　cap　pushed　past　him　and　came　into　the　room。　It　was　one　of　the　minor　cooks。　A　Cuban；　not　a　native　of　St。　Honorй。　〃I　tell　you　something。　I　tell　you；〃　he　said。　〃She　e　through　my　kitchen；　she　did；　and　she　had　a　knife　with　her。　A　knife；　I　tell　you。　She　had　a　knife　in　her　hand。　She　e　through　my　kitchen　and　out　of　the　door。　Out　into　the　garden。　I　saw　her。〃

〃Now　calm　down；〃　said　Daventry；　〃calm　down。　Who　are　you　talking　about？〃

〃I　tell　you　who　I'm　talking　about。　I'm　talking　about　the　boss's　wife。　Mrs　Kendal。　I'm　talking　about　her。　She　have　a　knife　in　her　hand　and　she　go　out　into　the　dark。　Before　dinner　that　wasand　she　didn't　e　back〃



Chapter　15

INQUIRY　CONTINUED



〃Can　we　have　a　word　with　you；　Mr。　Kendal？〃

〃Of　course。〃　Tim　looked　up　from　his　desk。　He　pushed　some　papers　aside　and　indicated　chairs。　His　face　was　drawn　and　miserable。　〃How　are　you　getting　on？　Got　any　forwarder？　There　seems　to　be　a　doom　in　this　place。　People　are　wanting　to　leave；　you　know；　asking　about　air　passages。　Just　when　it　seemed　everything　was　being　a　success。　Oh　lord；　you　don't　know　what　it　means；　this　place；　to　me　and　to　Molly。　We　staked　everything　on　it。〃

〃It's　very　hard　on　you；　I　know；〃　said　Inspector　Weston。　〃Don't　think　that　we　don't　sympathise。〃

〃If　it　all　could　be　cleared　up　quickly；〃　said　Tim。　〃This　wretched　girl　Victoria　Oh！　I　oughtn't　to　talk　about　her　like　that。　She　was　quite　a　good　sort；　Victoria　was。　Butbut　there　must　be　some　quite　simple　reason；　some　kind　of　intrigue；　or　love　affair　she　had。　Perhaps　her　husband〃

〃Jim　Ellis　wasn't　her　husband；　and　they　seemed　a　settled　sort　of　couple。〃

〃If　it　could　only　be　cleared　up　quickly；〃　said　Tim　again。　〃I'm　sorry。　You　wanted　to　talk　to　me　about　something；　ask　me　something。〃

〃Yes。　It　was　about　last　night。　According　to　medical　evidence　Victoria　was　killed　some　time　between　10。30　P。M。　and　midnight。　Alibis　under　the　circumstances　that　prevail　here；　are　not　very　easy　to　prove。　People　are　moving　about；　dancing；　walking　away　from　the　terrace；　ing　back。　It's　all　very　difficult。〃

〃I　suppose　so。　But　does　that　mean　that　you　definitely　consider　Victoria　was　killed　by　one　of　the　guests　here？〃

〃Well；　we　have　to　examine　that　possibility；　Mr。　Kendal。　What　I　want　to　ask　you　particularly　about；　is　a　statement　made　by　one　of　your　cooks。〃

〃Oh？　Which　one？　What　does　he　say？〃

〃He's　a　Cuban；　I　understand。〃

〃We've　got　two　Cubans　and　a　Puerto　Rican。〃

〃This　man　Enrico　states　that　your　wife　passed　through　the　kitchen　on　her　way　from　the　dining　room；　and　went　out　into　the　garden　and　that　she　was　carrying　a　knife。〃

Tim　stared　at　him。

〃Molly；　carrying　a　knife？　Well；　why　shouldn't　she？　I　meanwhyyou　don't　thinkwhat　are　you　trying　to　suggest？〃

〃I　am　talking　of　the　time　before　people　had　e　into　the　dining　room。　It　would　be；　I　suppose；　some　time　about　8。30。　You　yourself　were　in　the　dining　room　talking　to　the　head　waiter；　Fernando；　I　believe。〃

〃Yes。〃　Tim　cast　his　mind　back。　〃Yes；　I　remember。〃

〃And　your　wife　came　in　from　the　terrace？〃

〃Yes；　she　did；〃　Tim　agreed。　〃She　always　went　out　to　look　over　the　tables。　Sometimes　the　boys　set　things　wrong；　fot　some　of　the　cutlery；　things　like　that。　Very　likely　that's　what　it　was。　She　may　have　been　rearranging　cutlery　or　something。　She　might　have　had　a　spare　knife　or　a　spoon；　something　like　that　in　her　hand。〃

〃And　she　came　from　the　terrace　into　the　dining　room。　Did　she　speak　to　you？〃

〃Yes；　we　had　a　word　or　two　together。〃

〃What　did　she　say？　Can　you　remember？〃

〃I　think　I　asked　her　who　she'd　been　talking　to。　I　heard　her　voice　out　there。〃

〃And　who　did　she　say　she'd　been　talking　to？〃

〃Gregory　Dyson。〃

〃Ah。　Yes。　That　is　what　he　said。〃

Tim　went　on；　〃He'd　been　making　a　pass　at　her　I　understand。　He　was　a　bit　given　to　that　kind　of　thing。　It　annoyed　me　and　I　said　'Blast　him'　and　Molly　laughed　and　said　she　could　do　all　the　blasting　that　needed　to　be　done。　Molly's　a　very　clever　girl　that　way。　It's　not　always　an　easy　position；　you　know。　You　can't　offend　guests；　and　so　an　attractive　girl　like　Molly　has　to　pass　things　off　with　a　laugh　and　a　shrug。　Gregory　Dyson　finds　it　difficult　to　keep　his　hands　off　any　goodlooking　woman。〃

〃Had　there　been