II

Mr. Prestcott went up with them to Conway Jefferson’s suite. It was on thefirst floor, overlooking the sea. Melchett said carelessly:

“Does himself pretty well, eh? Rich man?”

“Very well off indeed, I believe. Nothing’s ever stinted when he comeshere. Best rooms reserved—food usually à la carte, expensive wines—bestof everything.”

Melchett nodded.

Mr. Prestcott tapped on the outer door and a woman’s voice said: “Comein.”

The manager entered, the others behind him.

Mr. Prestcott’s manner was apologetic as he spoke to the woman whoturned her head at their entrance from her seat by the window.

“I am so sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Jefferson, but these gentlemen are—from the police. They are very anxious to have a word with Mr. Jefferson.

Er—Colonel Melchett—Superintendent Harper, Inspector—er—Slack—Mrs. Jefferson.”

Mrs. Jefferson acknowledged the introduction by bending her head.

A plain woman, was Melchett’s first impression. Then, as a slight smilecame to her lips and she spoke, he changed his opinion. She had a singu-larly charming and sympathetic voice and her eyes, clear hazel eyes, werebeautiful. She was quietly but not unbecomingly dressed and was, hejudged, about thirty-five years of age.

She said:

“My father-in-law is asleep. He is not strong at all, and this affair hasbeen a terrible shock to him. We had to have the doctor, and the doctorgave him a sedative. As soon as he wakes he will, I know, want to see you.

In the meantime, perhaps I can help you? Won’t you sit down?”

Mr. Prestcott, anxious to escape, said to Colonel Melchett: “Well—er—ifthat’s all I can do for you?” and thankfully received permission to depart.

With his closing of the door behind him, the atmosphere took on a mel-low and more social quality. Adelaide Jefferson had the power of creatinga restful atmosphere. She was a woman who never seemed to say any-thing remarkable but who succeeded in stimulating other people to talkand setting them at their ease. She struck now the right note when shesaid:

“This business has shocked us all very much. We saw quite a lot of thepoor girl, you know. It seems quite unbelievable. My father-in-law is ter-ribly upset. He was very fond of Ruby.”

Colonel Melchett said:

“It was Mr. Jefferson, I understand, who reported her disappearance tothe police?”

He wanted to see exactly how she would react to that. There was aflicker—just a flicker—of—annoyance? concern?—he could not say whatexactly, but there was something, and it seemed to him she had definitelyto brace herself, as though to an unpleasant task, before going on.

She said:

“Yes, that is so. Being an invalid, he gets easily upset and worried. Wetried to persuade him that it was all right, that there was some natural ex-planation, and that the girl herself would not like the police being notified.

He insisted. Well”—she made a slight gesture—“he was right and we werewrong.”

Melchett asked: “Exactly how well did you know Ruby Keene, Mrs. Jef-ferson?”

She considered.

“It’s difficult to say. My father-in-law is very fond of young people andlikes to have them round him. Ruby was a new type to him — he wasamused and interested by her chatter. She sat with us a good deal in thehotel and my father-in-law took her out for drives in the car.”

Her voice was quite noncommittal. Melchett thought to himself: “Shecould say more if she chose.”

He said: “Will you tell me what you can of the course of events lastnight?”

“Certainly, but there is very little that will be useful, I’m afraid. Afterdinner Ruby came and sat with us in the lounge. She remained even afterthe dancing had started. We had arranged to play bridge later, but wewere waiting for Mark, that is Mark Gaskell, my brother-in-law—he mar-ried Mr. Jefferson’s daughter, you know—who had some important lettersto write, and also for Josie. She was going to make a fourth with us.”

“Did that often happen?”

“Quite frequently. She’s a first-class player, of course, and very nice. Myfather-in-law is a keen bridge player and whenever possible liked to gethold of Josie to make the fourth instead of an outsider. Naturally, as shehas to arrange the fours, she can’t always play with us, but she doeswhenever she can, and as”—her eyes smiled a little—“my father-in-lawspends a lot of money in the hotel, the management are quite pleased forJosie to favour us.”

Melchett asked:

“You like Josie?”

“Yes, I do. She’s always good-humoured and cheerful, works hard andseems to enjoy her job. She’s shrewd, though not well educated, and—well—never pretends about anything. She’s natural and unaffected.”

“Please go on, Mrs. Jefferson.”

“As I say, Josie had to get her bridge fours arranged and Mark was writ-ing, so Ruby sat and talked with us a little longer than usual. Then Josiecame along, and Ruby went off to do her first solo dance with Raymond—he’s the dance and tennis professional. She came back to us afterwardsjust as Mark joined us. Then she went off to dance with a young man andwe four started our bridge.”

She stopped, and made a slight insignificant gesture of helplessness.

“And that’s all I know! I just caught a glimpse of her once dancing, butbridge is an absorbing game and I hardly glanced through the glass parti-tion at the ballroom. Then, at midnight, Raymond came along to Josie veryupset and asked where Ruby was. Josie, naturally, tried to shut him up but—”

Superintendent Harper interrupted. He said in his quiet voice: “Why‘naturally,’ Mrs. Jefferson?”

“Well”—she hesitated, looked, Melchett thought, a little put out—“Josiedidn’t want the girl’s absence made too much of. She considered herselfresponsible for her in a way. She said Ruby was probably up in her bed-room, said the girl had talked about having a headache earlier—I don’tthink that was true, by the way; Josie just said it by way of excuse. Ray-mond went off and telephoned up to Ruby’s room, but apparently therewas no answer, and he came back in rather a state—temperamental, youknow. Josie went off with him and tried to soothe him down, and in theend she danced with him instead of Ruby. Rather plucky of her, becauseyou could see afterwards it had hurt her ankle. She came back to us whenthe dance was over and tried to calm down Mr. Jefferson. He had gotworked up by then. We persuaded him in the end to go to bed, told himRuby had probably gone for a spin in a car and that they’d had a puncture.

He went to bed worried, and this morning he began to agitate at once.”

She paused. “The rest you know.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Jefferson. Now I’m going to ask you if you’ve any ideawho could have done this thing.”

She said immediately: “No idea whatever. I’m afraid I can’t help you inthe slightest.”

He pressed her. “The girl never said anything? Nothing about jealousy?

About some man she was afraid of? Or intimate with?”

Adelaide Jefferson shook her head to each query.

There seemed nothing more that she could tell them.

The Superintendent suggested that they should interview young GeorgeBartlett and return to see Mr. Jefferson later. Colonel Melchett agreed, andthe three men went out, Mrs. Jefferson promising to send word as soon asMr. Jefferson was awake.

“Nice woman,” said the Colonel, as they closed the door behind them.

“A very nice lady indeed,” said Superintendent Harper.