Apparently she had lived there quite happily.
Bit overwhelming, isnt it? said Inspector Taverner. Of course, the old gentleman built on to it a good dealmaking it into three separate houses, so to speak, with kitchensand everything. Its all tip-top inside, fitted up[46] like a luxury hotel.
Sophia came out of the front door. She was hatless and wore a green shirt and a tweed skirt.
She stopped dead when she saw me.
You? she exclaimed.
I said:
Sophia, Ive got to talk to you. Where can we go?
For a moment I thought she was going to demur, then she turned and said: This way.
We walked down across the lawn. There was a fine view across Swinly Deans No 1 courseaway to a clump of pine trees on a hill, and beyond it, to the dimness of hazy countryside.
Sophia led me to a rock-garden, now somewhat neglected, where there was a rustic wooden seat of great discomfort, and we sat down.
Well? she said.
Her voice was not encouraging.
I said my pieceall of it.
She listened very attentively. Her face gave little indication of what she was thinking, but when I came at last to a full stop, she sighed. It was a deep sigh.
Your father, she said, is a very clever man.
The Old Man has his points. I think its a rotten idea myselfbut
She interrupted me.
Oh no, she said. It isnt a rotten idea at all. Its the only thing that might be any good. Your father, Charles, knows exactly whats been going on in my mind. He knows better than you do.
With a sudden almost despairing vehemence, she drove one clenched hand into the palm of the other.
Ive got to have the truth. Ive got to know!
Because of us? But, dearest
Not only because of us, Charles. Ive got to know for my own peace of mind. You see, Charles, I didnt tell you last nightbut the truth isIm afraid.
Afraid?
Yesafraidafraidafraid. The police think, your father thinks, you think, everybody thinksthat it was Brenda.
The probabilities
Oh yes, its quite probable. Its possible. But when I say, Brenda probably did it, Im quite conscious that its only wishful thinking. Because, you see, I dont really think so!
You dont think so? I said slowly.
I dont know. Youve heard about it all from the outside as I wanted you to. Now Ill show it you from the inside. I simply dont feel that Brenda is that kind of a person shes not the sort of person, I feel, who would ever do anything that might involve her in any danger. Shes far too careful of herself.
How about this young man? Laurence Brown.
Laurence is a complete rabbit. He wouldnt have the guts[47].
I wonder.
Yes, we dont really know, do we? I mean, people are capable of[48] surprising one frightfully. One gets an idea of them into ones head, and sometimes its absolutely wrong. Not alwaysbut sometimes. But all the same, Brendashe shook her headshes always acted so completely in character. Shes what I call the harem type. Likes sitting about and eating sweets and having nice clothes and jewellery and reading cheap novels and going to the cinema. And its a queer thing to say, when one remembers that he was eighty-seven, but I really think she was rather thrilled by grandfather. He had a power, you know. I should imagine he could make a woman feelohrather like a queen the sultans favourite! I thinkIve always thoughtthat he made Brenda feel as though she were an exciting, romantic person. Hes been clever with women all his lifeand that kind of thing is a sort of artyou dont lose the knack of it, however old you are.
I left the problem of Brenda for the moment and harked back to[49] a phrase of Sophias which had disturbed me.
Why did you say, I asked, that you were afraid?
Sophia shivered a little and pressed her hands together.
Because its true, she said in a low voice. Its very important, Charles, that I should make you understand this. You see, were a very queer family Theres a lot of rutblessness in usanddifferent kinds of ruthlessness. Thats whats so disturbing. The different kinds.
She must have seen incomprehension in my face. She went on, speaking energetically.
Ill try and make what I mean clear. Grandfather, for instance. Once when he was telling us about his boyhood in Smyrna, he mentioned, quite casually, that he had stabbed two men. It was some kind of a brawlthere had been some unforgivable insultI dont knowbut it was just a thing that had happened quite naturally. Hed really practically forgotten about it. But it was, somehow, such a queer thing to hear about, quite casually, in England.
I nodded.
Thats one kind of ruthlessness, went on Sophia, and then there was my grandmother. I only just remember her, but Ive heard a good deal about her. I think she might have had the ruthlessness that comes from having no imagination whatever. All those fox-hunting forebearsand the old Generals, the shoot-em-down type. Full of rectitude and arrogance, and not a bit afraid of taking responsibility in matters of life and death.
Isnt that a bit far-fetched?
Yes, I dare saybut Im always rather afraid of that type. Its full of rectitude but it is ruthless. And then theres my own mothershes an actressshes a darling, but shes got absolutely no sense of proportion. Shes one of those unconscious egoists who can only see things in relation to how it affects them. Thats rather frightening, sometimes, you know. And theres Clemency, Uncle Rogers wife. Shes a scientistshes doing some kind of very important researchshes ruthless too, in a kind of cold-blooded impersonal way. Uncle Rogers the exact oppositehes the kindest and most lovable person in the world, but hes got a really terrific temper. Things make his blood boil and then he hardly knows what hes doing. And theres father
She made a long pause.
Father, she said slowly, is almost too well controlled. You never know what hes thinking. He never shows any emotion at all. Its probably a kind of unconscious self-defence against mothers absolute orgies of emotion, but sometimesit worries me a little.
My dear child, I said, youre working yourself up unnecessarily. What it comes to in the end is that everybody, perhaps, is capable of murder.
I suppose thats true. Even me.
Not you!
Oh yes, Charles, you cant make me an exception. I suppose I could murder someone She was silent a moment or two, then added, But if so, it would have to be for something really worth while[50]!
I laughed then. I couldnt help it. And Sophia smiled.
Perhaps Im a fool, she said, but weve got to find out the truth about grandfathers death. Weve got to. If only it was Brenda
I felt suddenly rather sorry for Brenda Leonides.
Chapter 5
Along the path towards us came a tall figure walking briskly. It had on a battered old felt hat, a shapeless skirt, and a rather cumbersome jersey.
Aunt Edith, said Sophia.
The figure paused once or twice, stooping to the flower borders, then it advanced upon us. I rose to my feet.
This is Charles Hayward, Aunt Edith. My aunt, Miss de Haviland.
Edith de Haviland was a woman of about seventy. She had a mass of untidy grey hair, a weather-beaten face and a shrewd and piercing glance.
How dye do? she said. Ive heard about you. Back from the East. Hows your father?
Rather surprised, I said he was very well.
Knew him when he was a boy, said Miss de Haviland. Knew his mother very well. You look rather like her. Have you come to help usor the other thing?
I hope to help, I said rather uncomfortably.
She nodded.
We could do with some help. Place swarming with policemen. Pop out at you all over the place. Dont like some of the types. A boy whos been to a decent school oughtnt to go into the police. Saw Moyra Kinouls boy the other day holding up the traffic at Marble Arch. Makes you feel you dont know where you are!
She turned to Sophia.
Nannies asking for you, Sophia. Fish.
Bother[51], said Sophia. Ill go and telephone about it.
She walked briskly towards the house. Miss de Haviland turned and walked slowly in the same directon. I fell into step beside her.
Dont know what wed all do without nannies, said Miss de Haviland. Nearly everybodys got an old nannie. They come back and wash and iron and cook and do housework. Faithful. Chose this one myselfyears ago.
She stopped and pulled viciously at an entangling twining bit of green.
Hateful stuffbindweed! Worst weed there is! Choking, entanglingand you cant get at it properly, runs along underground.
With her heel she ground the handful of greenstuff viciously underfoot.
This is a bad business, Charles Hayward, she said. She was looking towards the house. What do the police think about it? Suppose I mustnt ask you that. Seems odd to think of Aristide being poisoned. For that matter it seems odd to think of him being dead. I never liked himnever! But I cant get used to the idea of his being dead Makes the house seem soempty.
This is a bad business, Charles Hayward, she said. She was looking towards the house. What do the police think about it? Suppose I mustnt ask you that. Seems odd to think of Aristide being poisoned. For that matter it seems odd to think of him being dead. I never liked himnever! But I cant get used to the idea of his being dead Makes the house seem soempty.
I said nothing. For all her curt way of speech, Edith de Haviland seemed in a reminiscent mood.
Was thinking this morningIve lived here a long time. Over forty years. Came here when my sister died. He asked me to. Seven childrenand the youngest only a year old Couldnt leave em to be brought up by their father, could I? An impossible marriage, of course. I always felt Marcia must have beenwellbewitched. He gave me a free handI will say that. Nurses, governesses, school. And proper wholesome nursery foodnot those queer spiced rice dishes he used to eat.
And youve been here ever since? I murmured.
Yes. Queer in a way I could have left, I suppose, when the children grew up and married I suppose, really, Id got interested in the garden. And then there was Philip. If a man marries an actress he cant expect to have any home life. Dont know why actresses have children. As soon as a babys born they rush off and play in Repertory in Edinburgh or somewhere as remote as possible. Philip did the sensible thingmoved in here with his books.
What does Philip Leonides do?
Writes books. Cant think why. Nobody wants to read them. All about obscure historical details. Youve never even heard of them, have you?
I admitted it.
Too much money, thats what hes had, said Miss de Haviland. Most people have to stop being cranks and earn a living.
Dont his books pay?
Of course not. Hes supposed to be a great authority on certain periods and all that. But he doesnt have to make his books payAristide settled something like a hundred thousand poundssomething quite fantasticon him! To avoid death duties[52]! Aristide made them all financially independent. Roger runs Associated CateringSophia has a very handsome allowance. The childrens money is in trust for them.