Inspector Alleyn 3-Book Collection 3: Death in a White Tie, Overture to Death, Death at the Bar. Ngaio Marsh
I mean … I can’t remember exactly.’
‘You must remember. Was it at poker? Cards of any sort?’
‘Yes, poker.’
‘There’s something else,’ said Alleyn. ‘Donald, I can’t exaggerate the harm you may do if you insist on hedging with us. Don’t you see that with every fresh evasion you put your friend in an even more dubious light than the one in which he already appears? For God’s sake think of your uncle’s death and your mother’s sensibilities and your own foolish skin. How else did you lose money to Captain Withers?’
Alleyn watched Donald raise his head, knit his brows, and put his fingers to his lips. His eyes were blank but they were fixed on Alleyn’s and presently an expression of doubtful astonishment crept into them.
‘I don’t know what to do,’ he said naïvely.
‘You mean you owe something to Withers. You have made some promise, I suppose. Is that it?’
‘Yes.’
‘To me the young men of your generation are rather bewildering. You seem to be a great deal more knowing than we were and yet I swear I would never have been taken in by a flashy gentleman with persuasive manners and no occupation, unless running an illicit hole-and-corner casino may be called an occupation.’
‘I never mentioned roulette,’ said Donald in a hurry.
‘It is indeed a shame to take your money,’ rejoined Alleyn.
Fox gave a curious little cough and turned a page of his notebook.
Alleyn said: ‘Has Captain Withers, by any chance, suggested that you should earn an honest penny by assisting him?’
‘I can’t answer any more questions about him,’ said Donald in a high voice. He looked as if he would either fly into a violent rage or burst into tears.
‘Very well,’ said Alleyn. ‘When did you hear of this tragedy?’
‘This morning when the sporting edition came in.’
‘About an hour and a half ago?’
‘Yes.’
‘How long does it take to get here from Captain Withers’s flat? It’s in Sling Street, Chelsea, isn’t it? About five minutes’ walk. Why were you so long coming here?’
‘I wasn’t dressed, and though you may not believe it, I got a shock when I heard of my uncle’s death.’
‘No doubt. So did your mother. I wonder she didn’t ring you up.’
‘The telephone’s disconnected,’ said Donald.
‘Indeed? Why is that?’
‘I forgot to pay the bloody bill. Wits left it to me. I rang her from a call-box.’
‘I see. Fox, one of our men is out there. Ask him to go to one hundred and ten Grandison Mansions, Sling Street, and tell Captain Withers I shall call on him in a few minutes and will be obliged if he remains indoors.’
‘Very good, Mr Alleyn,’ said Fox, and went out.
‘Now then,’ Alleyn continued. ‘I understand you were among the last to leave Marsdon House this morning. Correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘I want you to tell me exactly what happened just before you left. Come now, will you try to give me a clear account?’
Donald looked slightly more at his ease. Fox came back and resumed his seat.
‘I’ll try, certainly,’ said Donald. ‘Where do you want me to begin?’
‘From the moment when you came into the hall to go out.’
‘I was with Bridget O’Brien. I had the last dance with her and then we went into the buffet downstairs for soup.’
‘Anybody else there?’
‘Her stepfather. I said good night to him and then Bridgie and I went into the hall.’
‘Who was in the hall?’
‘I don’t remember except –’
‘Yes?’
‘Uncle Bunch was there.’
‘Did you speak to him?’
‘No, I wish to God I had.’
‘What was he doing?’
‘He had his cloak on. You know that extraordinary garment he wears? I think I heard him asking people if they’d seen Mrs Halcut-Hackett.’
‘Had you seen her?’
‘Not for some time, I think.’
‘So you remember nobody in the hall except your uncle and Miss O’Brien?’
That’s right. I said good night to Bridgie and went away.’
‘Alone?’
‘Yes.’
‘Captain Withers was not at the ball?’
‘Yes, but he’d gone.’
‘Why did you not go away together?’
‘Wits was going on somewhere. He had a date.’
‘Do you know where he went and with whom?’
‘No.’
‘When you left Marsdon House what did you do?’
‘Some people waiting outside for a taxi asked me to go on with them to the Sauce Boat, but I didn’t want to. To get rid of them I walked to the corner to look for a taxi.’
‘Which corner?’
‘First on the left as you come out of Marsdon House. Belgrave Road, I think it is.’
‘Anyone see you?’
‘I don’t know. Shouldn’t think so. There was a damned heavy mist lying like a blanket over everything.’
‘We’ll have to find your taxi.’
‘But I didn’t get a taxi.’
‘What!’
Donald began to speak rapidly, his words tumbling over each other, as though he had suddenly opened all the doors of his thoughts.
‘There wasn’t a taxi at the corner, so I walked. I walked on and on through Eaton Square. It was late – after three o’clock. Lots of taxis passed me, of course, but they were all engaged. I was thinking about things. About Bridget. I meant to keep her out of this but I suppose you’ll hear everything now. Everything will be dragged out and – and made to look awful. Bridgie, and – and Uncle Bunch – and taking my medical – and everything. I hardly noticed where I was going. It’s queer walking through mist. Your footsteps sound odd. Everything seemed thin and simple. I can’t describe it. I went on and on and presently there weren’t any more taxis and I was in the Kings Road so I just walked home. Past the Chelsea Palace and then off to the right into Sling Street. That’s all.’
‘Did you meet anyone?’
‘I suppose I must have met a few people. I didn’t notice.’
‘What time did you get home?’
‘I didn’t notice.’
Alleyn looked gravely at him.
‘I want you, please, to try very hard to remember if you met anybody on that walk, particularly in the early stages, just after you left Marsdon House. I see no reason why I should not point out the importance of this. As far as we can make out your uncle left the house a few minutes after you did. He, too, walked a short way round the square. He hailed a taxi and was joined at the last minute by a man