Chapter 25 Chapter Thirteen

Anthony was delighted to see the look of instant understanding in the eyes of both his companions. His smugness was only short-lived, because he suddenly thought of something that made him break out in a cold sweat. He cried out: "My God—that car!" He jumped up. "What a fool--idiot I am! She told me a car nearly ran over her, and I wasn't paying attention. Come on, come on!" Kemp said: "She left the police station saying she was going straight home." "That's right. Why don't I go with her?" "Who's in the house?" Rhys asked.

"Ruth Lessing is waiting for Mrs. Derek there. It's likely that the two of them are still discussing the funeral!" "If my understanding of Mrs. Derek is correct. It should be discussing everything at the same time," Reese said.He suddenly added: "Does Irene Marr have any other plans?" "Not as far as I've heard." "I think I know what's making you so nervous. But—is it actually possible?" "I think so. Think for yourself." Camp is paying the bill.The three of them hurried out, and Kemp said as he ran: "Are you sure Miss Mal is in danger?"

"good." Anthony, sweating profusely, hailed a taxi.The three jumped in and told the driver to drive to George's house as soon as possible. Kemp said: "I only have clues. The Farleys are beyond suspicion." "yes." "Thank goodness. But there won't be another attempt—so soon?" "The sooner the better," Rhys said, "before we have a chance of finding the right clue, the third time lucky—must have thought so." Mrs. Ke told me that she would marry you as soon as you asked her to make your acquaintance." They chatted in intermittent jerks as the taxi driver took their orders and cut corners and eagerly accelerated to overtake.After taking the last turn in Elviston Square, he slammed on the brakes in front of George's house.

Elviston Square has never been so peaceful.Anthony forced himself to return to his usual calm demeanor.self-mumbling: "It's really like acting in a movie, making people feel a little bit like a fool." But he was the first to run up to the top of the steps and ring the bell, Kemp following him and Reese paying the fare. The maid opened the door. Anthony asked seriously: "Is Miss Iris back?" "Oh, back, sir. Half an hour ago." Anthony breathed a sigh of relief.Everything in the house was so quiet and normal that he couldn't help feeling embarrassed by his Hitchcockian nervousness.

"where is she?" "I think she's in the little parlor with Mrs. Derek." Anthony nodded and walked over with peace of mind, Reese and Kemp followed closely beside him. In the small living room, under the pale light, Mrs. Derek was digging through the drawers of the desk, looking intently, muttering something to herself. "Well, well, where have I put Mrs. Sam's letter? I'll see, . . . " "Where's Iris?" Anthony asked her abruptly. Lucilla turned her head and opened her eyes wide. "Iris? She—I'm sorry," she stood up. "Who are you?"

Reese came forward from behind him, and Lucilla's face cleared up.She hadn't seen Inspector Kemp who came in last. "Oh, my dear, Colonel Race! It's very kind of you to come! I wish you'd come sooner so I could ask you about funeral arrangements, a man's opinion is valuable. And I'm really sorry, like I told Miss Lessing, too sad to even think of it—I must say that Miss Lessing suddenly became very sympathetic, and offered to do what she could to ease my burden. Only, she had a good point, of course I'm the only one who knows George's favorite hymn best. I don't really know, because George doesn't go to church very often. But of course, being a clergyman's wife--I mean a widow —I do know why hymns are more appropriate—”

Reese took advantage of the moment she paused to ask, "Where's Miss Marr?" "Iris? She came in some hour ago. She said she had a headache and went straight to her room. Young girls these days, you know, don't seem to have the energy I have anymore, they don't eat enough spinach, And she doesn't seem to like talking about funeral arrangements. But after all, someone has to do it, and do it in the best possible way, to show respect for the dead. I don't think motorized hearses are very religious—if You know what I mean--not like being pulled by a horse with a long black tail--but, of course, I said right away that it didn't matter, and Ruth--I called her Ruth instead of Lessing Say, miss, that I'll take care of everything, and that she can leave everything to us."

Kemp asked: "Miss Lessing is gone?" "Yes, we have settled everything. Miss Lessing left about ten minutes ago. She has an obituary to be published in the newspaper. No flower baskets or wreaths. And the ceremony will be held at the Cloncey Cemetery—" When she went on talking, Anthony quietly walked out of the living room.As soon as he was gone, Lucilla interrupted her narration abruptly, pausing to say, "Who was that young man who came with you? I didn't think at first that you brought it. I thought he might be one of those dreaded reporters." .We got a lot of trouble from them."

Anthony climbed the stairs softly.He heard footsteps behind him, turned his head to see Inspector Kemp, and grinned at him. "You escaped too? Poor old Rhys!" Kemp murmured. "He's good at that stuff, and I'm not." They went up to the second floor and were about to go up to the third floor when Anthony heard a slight sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.He took Campla into an adjacent bathroom. The footsteps continued to ring down. Anthony rushed to the third floor.Iris' room, he knew, was a small room at the back.He knocked lightly on the door. "Hi—Iris." No answer.He knocked and yelled again.Then he tried the doorknob and found it locked.

He knocked hard and desperately. "Iris—Iris—" After a second or two, he stopped and looked down.He was standing on an old-fashioned square wool rug to keep out dust.The rug plugged the gap under the door tightly.Anthony kicked it away.The gap under the door was wide—sometimes left wide for carpeting, he reasoned. He bent down and put his eyes on the keyhole, but could see nothing.Suddenly, he raised his head and kept sniffing.Then he lay on the ground with his nose close to the gap under the door. He jumped up and yelled, "Camp!" Inspector Kemp was nowhere to be seen.Anthony yelled again.

However, as soon as the cry fell, it was Colonel Race who rushed up.Anthony didn't give him a chance to say anything.He said: "Gas—overflow! We've got to break down the door." Reese was strong, and together with Anthony, he knocked down the door in one fell swoop. They fell to the ground for a moment, and then Race said: "She's by the fireplace. I rushed in and broke the window. You carry her out." Iris Marr lay next to the gas stove—with her mouth and nose on the gas spout. After a minute or two, Anthony and Reese were choked with snot and tears, leaving the unconscious Iris lying on the ventilation window sill of the aisle. Reese said: "I'll give her artificial first aid. You hurry to a doctor." Anthony hurried downstairs.Rhys called after him: "Don't worry. I think she'll be all right. We're here just in time." Anthony was dialing the phone in the lobby, talking into the microphone, with Lucilla Derek yelling behind him. He finally turned his head, breathed a sigh of relief, and said to her: "Found it. He lives across the square and will be here in a few minutes." "—but I must know what happened! Is Iris sick?" Anthony said: "She was in her room, the door was locked, her head was leaning on the gas stove, and the gas was coming out of her mouth and nose." "Iris?" Mrs. Derek screamed. "Iris committed suicide? I don't believe it. I can't believe it!" Anthony smiled maliciously and said: "You don't have to believe it," he said, "it's not true."