THE CRYSTAL BEADS MURDER (Murder Mystery for Inspector Stoddart). Annie Haynes
again, it might ha' been thrown there by somebody that didn't want it to tell tales," he finished darkly.
"It'll tell tales all right," the inspector muttered as he and Harbord, having marked the spot, walked off.
Chapter VI
"Only two women who were in the house-party for Doncaster were staying at Holford Hall last Thursday," Stoddart said, meeting Harbord in the village street outside the 'Medchester Arms.' "One of them is Miss Courtenay, Lord Medchester's cousin, the other is a Mrs. Williamson, the pretty young second wife of a retired Indian colonel, to whom she is apparently devoted."
"That narrows matters down a little," Harbord said consideringly. "Though of course we have no certainty that the person who shot Saunderson was a member of the Doncaster house-party, or of the party last Thursday, for that matter."
"No certainty at all," the inspector assented.
"In fact, there is no certainty about the whole thing except Saunderson's death. He is to be buried to-morrow, by the way. The coroner has given the certificate. I was about to add that four men were included in both parties. Colonel Williamson, Mr. Harold Courtenay--he, of course, is the young gentleman who was so anxious to get out of our way this morning--Captain Maddock and Sir John Linford. All of those must be interviewed to-day. If possible we must see the ladies first."
"Of course," Harbord agreed thoughtfully. "There is also Lady Medchester. Rumour credits her with a distinct penchant for Saunderson."
"Oh, I haven't forgotten her ladyship," Stoddart said quietly. "But Lady Medchester is a lady of a good many affairs--still, you can't say she wouldn't lose her head over Robert Saunderson. However, we will get her first if we can. Lord Medchester says we may interview the folks in the gun-room. But I fancy it will be best to ask for Lady Medchester first and see her wherever she wishes. It is curious that nobody appears to have a satisfactory alibi."
Just inside the lodge gates they encountered Lord Medchester. He greeted them with effusion.
"I was just going down to have a word with the vicar. It's about this funeral of Saunderson's. Nobody seems to know anything about the fellow, and he's left no directions that anybody knows of. I think the poor chap will have to be buried down here."
"Hasn't he left a Will?"
"Haven't been able to get on the track of it if he has," Lord Medchester said discontentedly. "They say at the bank--the United Overseas, you know--that he was joking with the manager a week or two ago about not having made a Will, and said he would when he had anything to leave and anybody to leave it to. Sort of rubbishing joke a chap does make, you know."
"I know," the inspector assented gravely. "Well, perhaps it will be as well to bury him here if he hasn't expressed any wish for anywhere else."
"Well, I can't say I have any wish to be buried anywhere myself," his lordship rejoined. "I'd rather stay above ground as long as I can. And I don't want to be cremated. Beastly business that."
"There is something to be said for and against," the inspector said impartially. "We were just coming up to the Hall. You will understand that, purely as a matter of form, we have to ask every one who was at the Hall that night to account for his or her movements at the time of the murder?"
"What!" His lordship looked aghast. "You don't mean everybody at the Hall? Gardeners and gamekeepers, of course. And, as I said before, the gun-room is at your service if you wish to see 'em indoors; but you can't suspect my guests or the indoor servants!"
"I don't suspect anybody, Lord Medchester," the inspector said gravely. "But I have got to find out who shot Mr. Saunderson, and first of all I have to find out where every one in the immediate neighbourhood was between nine and eleven o'clock last Thursday. Perhaps I might be allowed to begin with you? You would be, I presume, with your guests?"
"Of course I was." His lordship took off his hat and mopped his bald head. "Well, if that is how things are, I'd better walk back with you myself. I expect some of the folks will be a bit rattled when they know what you are up to."
"Oh, I hope not," the inspector dissented. "I shall only keep them a few minutes if they are sensible. You, now, will be able to tell me just who was with you at that time. That will put them out, of course."
"I am sure I don't know that I can." Lord Medchester replaced his hat and turned back up the avenue with them. "Nine o'clock? That would be just after dinner. Well, we didn't stay in the dining-room long--some of 'em started playing auction, but I always find that a bit slow myself, and as there didn't seem much chance of poker or baccarat I went into the billiard-room with some of the others. But I had only just gone in when Mr. Burford--that's my trainer--and Captain Maddock came in and wanted a word with us. Some of the horses were coughing, and he had taken a fancy to have some vet he'd heard of down from town. Well, we didn't quite see it, either of us. It would have meant a pretty pot of money, and we were satisfied with old Tom Worseley, who'd looked after them before. Burford, who is a pretty obstinate chap, was inclined to argue the matter. So we went to smoke our cigarettes and talk things over in the veranda."
"Well, Lord Medchester, you can at least answer for it that neither Captain Maddock nor Mr. Burford was near the rosery during the suspected time." The inspector cast a keen glance at the other's face as he spoke.
"I am sure I don't know that I could," he said in a worried tone. "I was dodging about, you know, in and out from the card-room to the billiard-room talking to one and the other. When a man has guests he can't sit in one place all the evening."
"Of course he can't," the inspector agreed. They were getting near the front door, but Lord Medchester turned off across the grass.
"We'll go in by the side door and to my study. Then I will fetch Lady Medchester."
"Thank you."
"She won't like coming. I dare say you will find her a bit ratty," his lordship observed confidentially. "And I don't think she will be able to tell you anything. But that's that."
He took them in by the conservatory door and straight to his study--an apartment redolent of tobacco and scattered over with racing papers.
Lady Medchester did not hurry herself. Stoddart went over to the bookshelves.
"Who was Lady Medchester, I wonder?"
He took out a Peerage and turned over the leaves rapidly. Then he drew in his lips.
"H'm! Tells its own tale. Richard Frederick, fifth Viscount Medchester... Married Minnie, daughter of Francis, Baron Loamfield... Oh, that may account for a great deal."
Harbord looked puzzled.
"I don't understand."
"Ah, well, you observe she was not the Honourable Minnie. Francis, Baron Loamfield, was about as bad as they make 'em. Lady Loamfield couldn't stand him. But she didn't divorce him, being a Catholic. Loamfield had any amount of mistresses and a large family of illegitimate children. Looked after 'em, too, which is more than some of 'em do. One of 'em is a butcher in Loamby. This Minnie, I have heard of her, though it had slipped my memory till I saw this paragraph. Well, Minnie was running about wild, and she took his fancy, being both pretty and independent; he had her educated and gave her a big marriage portion. But the Loamfield blood's in her, and if she runs straight--well, there isn't much in heredity."
"I wonder if there is?" Harbord hesitated.
They had no time for more. Lady Medchester came quickly across the hall and into the room.
"You want to speak to me?" she said abruptly.
"If you please, Lady Medchester." Stoddart placed a chair for her and closed the door. A glance told him that she was not looking well. Her make-up was not sufficient to disguise the pallor of her face or do away with the dark circles round her eyes, and her lips, scarlet with lipstick, were visibly trembling.
"You