Chapter 27 Section 5

The two police officers returned to Gullshaw, and Williams reported the results of the inspection to them. Nothing suspicious was found in any of the bedrooms.The servants clamored to continue the daily clean-up.Should he allow them to go back to work? "Well, I suppose," Barto said, "I'll go up to the upstairs room myself first. A room that hasn't been tidied can often tell you something worth knowing about the person who lives in that room." Jones put a small cardboard box on the table. "From Mr. Neville Schunji's dark blue coat," he said. "The red hair is on the cuff, and the blond hair is on the inside of the collar and on the right shoulder."

Ba Tuo picked up the two red hairs and half a dozen blond hairs in the paper box, and looked at them before his eyes.He blinked slightly and said: "Convenient. There are two blonds in this room, one red and one brunette. That way we'll see. Red on the cuffs and blond on the collar? Neville Scrooge The gentleman is indeed a bit like a blue-bearded man. His arm is around one wife, and the other lady rests her head on his shoulder, enjoying the blessings of everyone." (Editor's Note: "Yuzi · Li Louxia": "A man of Qi has a wife and a concubine and lives in the house." The "people of Qi" here is a metaphor for Neville having two wives at the same time.)

"The blood on the sleeve has been sent for analysis, sir. They'll call us as soon as they have the results." Li Qi nodded. "Where's the servant?" "I'm following your orders, sir. No one intends to resign or leave, or have any ill will toward the old lady. She's stern, but everybody likes her. Besides, it's Miss Odin's job to manage the servants. She seems quite welcome to them." "I can tell at a glance that she is a capable woman," Barto said. "If she is the female murderer we are looking for, it will not be easy to hang her."

Jones looked startled. "I know—I know," Barto said. "Mr. Schunji's in charge. It's generally believed that athletes are strong-limbed and simple-minded (which is not true at all), but I can't believe that Neville Schunji is a big fool. Where's the maid's Chana?" "It's always been on a shelf in the servants' bathroom on the third floor. She often dissolves it in water at noon and keeps it there until she goes to bed at night." "So, anyone can do something? That is to say, anyone in this room." Li Qi was convinced. He said:

"It's my family who did it!" "Well, I suppose so. It's not a closed crime, it isn't. Anyone who has the key can open the front door and come in. Neville Schunji had the key that night - but it's a simple matter of typing one." or an old hand can do it with a piece of wire. But I don't think anyone outside knows about calling the bell, and about Barrett's anti-diarrheals at night! That's something I know! Come on, Jen James, let's go upstairs and see this bathroom and all the other rooms." They start from the top floor.The first is a sundry storage room, which is full of old and broken furniture and various miscellaneous things.

"I haven't checked this one, sir," said Jones, "I don't know—" "What can you find? If you don't look for it, it's just a waste of time. From the dust on the floor, no one has been here for at least six months." The servants' rooms are on this floor, along with two unused rooms and a bathroom.Ba Tuo walked around each room, and noticed that Alice, the protruding-eyed maid, slept with the window closed; Emma, ​​the thin one, had many relatives, and the drawers were full of their photos, while Husky Toh owned a piece or two of valuable china, though broken.

The cook's room was orderly, but the kitchenmaid's room was in disorder.Ba Tuo went on and walked into the bathroom closest to the stairs.Williams pointed to the long shelf over the washbasin, on which were placed toothbrushes, mirrors, combs, various ointments and hair lotions, and other jars and jars.A pack of Channa leaves is left open at the end. "No fingerprints on the paper bag or the cup?" "Only the maid's. I took her fingerprints from her room." "He doesn't have to touch the glass," Leech said, "he just drops things in." Ba Tuo went down the stairs, with Li Qi following behind.Halfway up this flight of stairs there is a somewhat dubious window in the wall.A stick with an iron hook at the top stood upright in a corner.

"That's for pulling down the windows," Leech explained. "But there's a security button there, and the window can only get in there. The gap is too narrow to get in there." "I'm not thinking of someone coming in there," Barto said, looking thoughtful. He walked into the first bedroom on the second floor, where Audrey Schunkie slept. The room was clean and fresh, with an ivory comb on the dressing table—no loose clothes.Ba Tuo opened the wardrobe and saw two sets of casual dresses, some pajamas, and one or two summer dresses.Pajamas were cheap, and tailor-made clothes were expensive, but not new.

Barto nodded.He stood in front of the desk for a minute, casually moving the pen tray to the left of the blotting paper. "There's nothing interesting on the blotter or in the wastebasket," Williams said. "Your job is right," Barto said. "There's nothing to see here." They went on to the other rooms. Thomas Lloyd's room was in disarray, with scattered clothes.The table was covered with tobacco and ashes, and a Kipling novel lay half-opened beside the bed. "I'm used to let the servants clean up for him," Barto said. "I like to read some old novels. A conservative character."

Mary Odin's room was small and comfortable.Ba Tuo looked at some travel books and an old-fashioned silver comb on the shelf.The furnishings and colors of this room were more modern than the others. "She's not very conservative," Barto said. "No pictures. Not someone who lives in the past." There were three or four empty rooms, all cleaned and ready to be occupied, and several bathrooms.Then came Mrs. Trixilian's large double room.A few steps past the double room, there are two bedrooms with one bathroom occupied by Shi Chunji and his wife. Barto wasted little time in Neville's room.He looked out of the open window, and there was a cliff below that fell straight down to the sea.This is a window that opens to the west, and you can see the cliff head on the opposite bank jutting out of the sea.

"The sun can shine in in the afternoon," he murmured, "but it's a bit gloomy in the morning. At low tide, there will be a pungent smell of seaweed. And the cliff on the other side looks steep and cold, no wonder it attracts people to commit suicide there!" He made his way to the larger one-bedroom, and the lock on the passage door was unlocked. Everything is messed up here.Laundry was strewn about in piles—thin underpants, socks, vests, tried on and thrown away—and a checked dress was spread out on the back of a chair.Ba Tuo opened the closet and saw that it was full of fur coats, evening dresses, home clothes, sportswear, tennis clothes, beach clothes, etc. Ba Tuo closed the cupboard door almost religiously. "The taste is extravagant," he said. "She must have cost her husband a good deal." Li Qi said gloomyly: "Perhaps because—" He didn't go on. "That's why he needs a hundred thousand—or should I say fifty thousand? Perhaps. I think we'd better talk to him and see what he has to say." They went downstairs to the study.Williams was sent to tell the servants that they could resume their daily work.Family members can return to their individual rooms at will.He also told them that Inspector Leech would speak to them individually, starting with Mr. Neville Springer. As soon as Williams left the study, Barto and Rich sat behind a large Victorian desk.A young police officer prepared a pen and paper and sat in a corner of the study. Bato said: "You start talking to them first, James, and behave yourself." Li Qi nodded, and Ba Tuo frowned while rubbing his hands. "I wish I knew why Hercule; Poirot keeps coming to my mind." "You mean the old man--the Belgian--that funny little guy?" "Funny fart," said Chief Inspector Barto, "he's as dangerous as an African black viper and a female leopard--that's how he started out as a charlatan! I wish he was here--this kind of It's just his housekeeping skills." "How to say?" "Psychology," Bardo said, "real psychology—not the sick stuff." He thought angrily of Miss Amphrey and his daughter Sylvia. "It's not--it's the real thing--into the hall, to understand people's psychology. Let the murderer talk constantly...that's his trick. Say that everyone tells the truth sooner or later--because in the end it's better to tell the truth than to lie Easy to come by. Then they'll slip away and say something they don't think matters—and then you'll catch their fox by the tail." "So you want to let Neville Schunji go, let him kill himself?" Ba Tuo replied absent-mindedly.Then he added, somewhat perplexed and distressed: "But what really bothers me is—what on earth reminds me of Hercule Poirot? Upstairs—is what's upstairs. What on earth do I see upstairs that reminds me of the little man? thing?" Neville Springer stepped in and interrupted their conversation. He looked pale and worried, but not as nervous as he had been at breakfast.Ba Tuo looked at him sharply.It is unbelievable that a man who knew--he must have known, if he had any powers of thought--that his fingerprints were left on the murder weapon--and his own fingerprints were later taken by the police--could show He was neither very nervous, nor was he brazen enough to pretend nothing had happened. Neville Schunji looked quite natural - frightened, worried, sad - with just a hint of normal nervousness. James Leech speaks in his pleasant country western accent. "We want you to answer some questions, Mr. Shi Chunji. About your whereabouts last night and some special facts. At the same time, I must remind you to answer carefully. You don't have to answer unless you want to, and if you like, you can find Your lawyer is here." After he finished speaking, he lay back on the back of the chair to observe the effect of these words. Neville Springer looked bewildered. "He has no idea what we're up to, or else he's a fucking good actor," Li Qi thought to himself.As Neville made no answer, he said aloud, "How is it, Mr. Schunji?" Neville said: "Of course, you can ask." "You know," Barto said pleasantly, "everything you say will be recorded and may be used as evidence in court." A burst of anger flashed across Shi Chunji's face.He sharp said: "Are you threatening me?" "No, no, Mr. Shi Chunji, I'm warning you." Neville shrugged. "I guess it's all just your routine. Go ahead." "Are you ready to give a statement?" "If this is what you call a confession." "So how about telling us exactly where you were last night, starting with dinner?" "Of course. After dinner we went into the living room and we drank coffee. We listened to the radio—news reports and all. Then I decided to go to Tung Tau Bay to find a man who lived there—a friend of mine." "What is your name?" "Latimer, Edward Latimer." "A close friend?" "Oh, normal. We've seen him a lot since he came here. He's been here for lunch and dinner, and we've been to his place." Bato said: "Isn't it too late to go to Dongtouwan at that time?" "Oh, that's a casino—they're open late." "But this family is going to bed early, isn't it?" "Yes, that's roughly the case. But I have the key with me, and I don't need to be waited for." "Your wife imagines going with you?" There was a slight change in Neville's tone, and he said stiffly: "No, she has a headache. She's gone to bed." "Please continue, Mr. Shi Chunji." "I'm going upstairs to change." Li Qi interjected: "I'm sorry, Mr. Shi Chunji. What kind of clothes do you want to change into? Change into an evening dress or change into an evening dress?" "Neither. I was wearing a blue suit--it happened to be my best, because it was a little rainy outside, and I was going to take the ferry, and it was a bit of a walk ashore--about half a mile, you know--I Put on an old suit—a gray pinstriped one, if you want me to be specific." "We like to make things clear," Li Qi said modestly, "please continue." "As I said, I was going upstairs when Hastor came to me and told me that Mrs. Tricilian wanted to see me, so I went to her and had a little quarrel with her." Ba Tuo kindly said to him: "I think you are the last person to see her alive, Mr. Shi Chunji?" Neville blushed. "Yes—yes—I think so, she was all right then." "How long have you been with her?" "About twenty minutes to half an hour, I thought, and then I went back to my room, dressed, and hurried away. I had the key with me." "What time was it?" "About ten-thirty, I think. I hurried down the hill just in time for the ferry. I found Latimer at the hotel, and we had a drink or two and a game of pool. The time passed quickly, and I found I couldn't make it Last ferry. The last one leaves at half past one. So Latimer drove me back. You know, it means a detour to Sardinton—sixteen miles. We left the hotel at two and came back here About half-past two, I think. I thanked Ted Latimer and asked him to come in for a drink before he went, but he said he'd rather go straight back, so mine came in, straight up the stairs, and went to bed. I Didn't hear anything, didn't see anything missing. Everyone was asleep and the house was quiet. Then this morning I heard the girl screaming and—" Li Qi stopped him. "Indeed, indeed. Going back a little now--to the conversation between you and Mrs. Tricilian--wasn't her manner quite normal?" "Oh, perfectly normal." "What are you talking about?" "Oh, just talk." "Amicable?" Neville blushed. "certainly." "Did you—for example," Li Qiping continued smoothly, "have a heated argument?" Neville did not immediately answer.Li Qi said: "You'd better be honest, you know. I'll tell you frankly, some of your conversations have been overheard." Neville briefly said: "We have a bit of a disagreement. No big deal." "Disagreement on what?" Neville held back his temper.He smiled. "Frankly," he said, "she scolded me. It happens a lot. If she doesn't approve of anybody, she tells them straight up. She's old-fashioned, you know, and she doesn't approve of some modern ideas, ways—like divorce—and so on. We argued, and I might have gotten a little pissed off, but we parted perfectly amicably—to our own opinions, without interfering with each other.” He added, a little bitterly, “I Certainly not smashing her head because of an argument and losing her temper—if that's what you think!" Li Qi glanced at Batu.Ba Tuo suddenly leaned forward.He said: "You recognized that iron as yours this morning. How do you explain the presence of your fingerprints on it?" Neville stared blankly.He sharp said: "I—but of course it has my fingerprints on it—that's my club—I've always held it." "I mean, do you have any explanation for the fact that it has your fingerprints on it, indicating that you were the last person to take it." Neville sat quite still.There was no color on his face. "That's not true," he said at last. "It can't be. Someone could have used it after me—someone with gloves on." "No, Mr. Neville - no one can take it up and punch in - as you say - without destroying your fingerprints." There was a pause—a long pause. "Oh, my God," Neville couldn't help saying, with a long shudder.His hands covered his eyes.The two officers watched him. Then he put his hands down and sat up straight. "It's not true," he said calmly. "It's absolutely not true. You think I killed her, but I didn't. I swear I didn't. I must be mistaken." "You have no explanation for those fingerprints?" "How can I explain? I just don't know what to say." "Do you have any explanation for the blood on the sleeves and cuffs of your dark blue suit?" "Bloodstains?" a terrified voice. "impossible!" "Like, instead of you cutting yourself—" "No, no, of course I didn't!" They waited for a while. Neville Schunji wrinkled his forehead and seemed to be thinking.He looked up at them at last, eyes full of horror. "It's imagination!" he said. "Pure imagination. None of it is true." "The facts are out there," Inspector Barto said. "But why would I do such a thing. It's unbelievable--unbelievable! I've known Carmela all my life." Li Qi coughed. "I think you told us yourself, Mr. Shi Chunji, you can inherit a large fortune once Mrs. Cui Xilian dies?" "You think that's why—but I don't want money! I don't want it!" "This," Li Qi coughed lightly, "it's just what you said, Mr. Shi Chunji." Neville jumped up. "Listen, I can prove it. I don't need the money. I'll call my bank manager—you can talk to him yourself." The phone connects.Clear voice, straight to London.Neville said: "Is that you, Ronaldon? I'm Neville Springer. You can hear my voice, listen, you tell the police - they're here now - they want to know everything about me - — yes — yes, please." Li Qi took the receiver.He spoke calmly and answered them together. Finally, he put down the microphone. "Well," Neville said eagerly. Li Qi said calmly, "Your credit is good and you have a good deposit balance. The bank is in charge of all your investment affairs, and the report says everything looks good." "Now you know what I'm talking about is real!" "It seems so—but, Mr. Shi Chunji, you may have private commitments, debts—extortion payments—all kinds of reasons for needing money that we don't know." "But I haven't! I assure you I haven't. You can't find any such cause." Inspector Ba Tuo moved his thick shoulders, and said in a fatherly and kind voice: "I'm sure you agree, Mr. Shi Chunji, that we have enough evidence to apply for a warrant to arrest you. We haven't done that - haven't done it yet! We're giving you the 'good faith' discount, you know." Neville said bitterly: "You mean, you think I did it, but you want to find out a motive so that you can make a case and prosecute me, don't you?" Ba Tuo remained silent.Li Qi looked at the ceiling. Neville was frustrated and said: "It's like a nightmare. I don't have much to say or do, it's like falling into a trap and I can't get out." Chief Inspector Baduo moved his body.His half-closed eyes shone with wisdom. "Well said," he said, "very well said. It gave me an idea..."