Two

I
It was an idea that was being at that moment discussed by ColonelMelchett and Colonel Bantry.

The Chief Constable, after viewing the body and seeing his subordinatesset to work on their routine tasks, had adjourned with the master of thehouse to the study in the other wing of the house.

Colonel Melchett was an irascible-looking man with a habit of tugging athis short red moustache. He did so now, shooting a perplexed sidewaysglance at the other man. Finally, he rapped out:

“Look here, Bantry, got to get this off my chest. Is it a fact that you don’tknow from Adam who this girl is?”

The other’s answer was explosive, but the Chief Constable interruptedhim.

“Yes, yes, old man, but look at it like this. Might be deuced awkward foryou. Married man—fond of your missus and all that. But just betweenourselves—if you were tied up with this girl in any way, better say so now.

Quite natural to want to suppress the fact—should feel the same myself.

But it won’t do. Murder case. Facts bound to come out. Dash it all, I’m notsuggesting you strangled the girl—not the sort of thing you’d do—I knowthat. But, after all, she came here—to this house. Put it she broke in andwas waiting to see you, and some bloke or other followed her down anddid her in. Possible, you know. See what I mean?”

“Damn it all, Melchett, I tell you I’ve never set eyes on that girl in mylife! I’m not that sort of man.”

“That’s all right, then. Shouldn’t blame you, you know. Man of theworld. Still, if you say so—Question is, what was she doing down here?

She doesn’t come from these parts—that’s quite certain.”

“The whole thing’s a nightmare,” fumed the angry master of the house.

“The point is, old man, what was she doing in your library?”

“How should I know? I didn’t ask her here.”

“No, no. But she came here, all the same. Looks as though she wanted tosee you. You haven’t had any odd letters or anything?”

“No, I haven’t.”

Colonel Melchett inquired delicately:

“What were you doing yourself last night?”

“I went to the meeting of the Conservative Association. Nine o’clock, atMuch Benham.”

“And you got home when?”

“I left Much Benham just after ten—had a bit of trouble on the wayhome, had to change a wheel. I got back at a quarter to twelve.”

“You didn’t go into the library?”

“No.”

“Pity.”

“I was tired. I went straight up to bed.”

“Anyone waiting up for you?”

“No. I always take the latchkey. Lorrimer goes to bed at eleven unless Igive orders to the contrary.”

“Who shuts up the library?”

“Lorrimer. Usually about seven-thirty this time of year.”

“Would he go in there again during the evening?”

“Not with my being out. He left the tray with whisky and glasses in thehall.”

“I see. What about your wife?”

“I don’t know. She was in bed when I got home and fast asleep. She mayhave sat in the library yesterday evening or in the drawing room. I forgotto ask her.”

“Oh well, we shall soon know all the details. Of course, it’s possible oneof the servants may be concerned, eh?”

Colonel Bantry shook his head.

“I don’t believe it. They’re all a most respectable lot. We’ve had ’em foryears.”

Melchett agreed.

“Yes, it doesn’t seem likely that they’re mixed up in it. Looks more asthough the girl came down from town—perhaps with some young fellow.

Though why they wanted to break into this house—”

Bantry interrupted.

“London. That’s more like it. We don’t have goings on down here—atleast—”

“Well, what is it?”

“Upon my word!” exploded Colonel Bantry. “Basil Blake!”

“Who’s he?”

“Young fellow connected with the film industry. Poisonous young brute.

My wife sticks up for him because she was at school with his mother, butof all the decadent useless young jackanapes! Wants his behind kicked!

He’s taken that cottage on the Lansham Road—you know—ghastly mod-ern bit of building. He has parties there, shrieking, noisy crowds, and hehas girls down for the weekend.”

“Girls?”

“Yes, there was one last week—one of these platinum blondes—”

The Colonel’s jaw dropped.

“A platinum blonde, eh?” said Melchett reflectively.

“Yes. I say, Melchett, you don’t think—”

The Chief Constable said briskly:

“It’s a possibility. It accounts for a girl of this type being in St. MaryMead. I think I’ll run along and have a word with this young fellow—Braid—Blake—what did you say his name was?”

“Blake. Basil Blake.”

“Will he be at home, do you know?”

“Let me see. What’s today—Saturday? Usually gets here sometime Sat-urday morning.”

Melchett said grimly:

“We’ll see if we can find him.”