Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen: The Testimony of Elsie Bate

Inspector O'Connor was nicknamed "The Handmaid's Prayer Book" by his colleagues at Scotland Yard. He was really a handsome man, tall and straight, with broad shoulders, and women were attracted to him not so much for his neat silhouette, but for his mischievous and bold eyes.Inspector O'Connor was bound to have results, and very quickly. Inspector O'Connor was so quick that Mr. Shaitana's murder had only been four days old and he was already sitting next to Miss Issie Bate, former maid of "Mrs. Craddock, 117 North Audrey Street." Seeing Willie Neely's light-hearted opera in the three-six-pence seat.

Inspector O'Connor set his course carefully and began the big attack. "The show reminds me of an old master," he said. "He's called Craddock, and he's kind of an oddball." Elsie said, "Cradock, I used to work for a Craddock family." "Hey, that's really fun, I wonder if it's the same person?" Elsie said, "They live on North Audrey Street." O'Connor said at once: "When I left my employers they were moving to London. Yes, North Audrey Street, I believe. Mrs. Craddock is too much for gentlemen." Elsie shook her head.

"I can't stand her. Always finding fault, whining. She doesn't do anything right." "Her husband is often blamed by her, isn't he?" "She's always complaining that he's snubbing her - doesn't understand her. And she's always saying she's not well, panting and moaning. I don't think she's sick at all!" O'Connor patted his knee. "Come to think of it. Didn't she have something to do with a doctor? Too close or something?" "You mean Dr. Roberts? He's a nice gentleman, really." Inspector O'Connor said, "You girls are all the same. When a guy is a bad guy, all the girls in the world defend him. I know what he is."

"No, you don't know, you're totally mistaken. He's not that kind of guy. Mrs. Craddock keeps sending When he is a patient, he doesn't take it to heart at all. Everything is caused by her. It makes him restless." "That's good, Elsie—you don't object to me calling you Elsie, do you? It feels like I've known you all my life." "Hmph, you haven't known me that long. Call me Ice, hum!" She shook her head. He glanced at her. "Oh, well, Miss Bate. Just said that, and that's all right, but her husband keeps losing his temper, doesn't he?"

Elsie admitted, "One day he had a really bad temper. But I tell you, he was sick. You know he died shortly thereafter." "I remember—death in a strange way, isn't it?" "It's a Japanese thing--infected by a new shaving brush. It's scary if they don't take care, isn't it? I haven't liked Japanese stuff since." Inspector O'Connor said brilliantly: "Buy English, that's my motto. You say he had a fight with the doctor?" Aisi nodded, telling the past right and wrong vividly, she was very proud of herself.She said, "What a row. At least the master is. Dr. Roberts is always calm and talking nonsense! Where are you thinking?"

"I suppose it happened at home?" "Yes. She sent for him. Then she had an argument with the master, and in the middle of the quarrel Dr. Roberts came, and the master came up to him." "What exactly did he say?" "Oh, of course I shouldn't be listening. They were arguing in the mistress' bedroom. I thought something was wrong, so I took the duster and went to sweep the stairs. I didn't want to miss the show." Inspector O'Connor wholeheartedly sympathized with her state of mind, congratulating herself on the unofficial means of approaching Elsie.Had O'Connor interrogated her as an inspector, she would have argued that she hadn't overheard anything.

Elsie went on, "As I said, Dr. Roberts is quiet—the host is yelling." O'Connor pressed the gist a second time: "What did he say?" "Crack him up," Elsie relished. "What do you mean scolding?" Couldn't the girl say the exact word or phrase? Elsie admitted, "Well, I don't quite get it. Some of the words are very long, like unethical conduct and exploitation of . Is it possible to be delisted? It seems to be like this." "That's right," said O'Connor, "to the Medical Association." "Yes, he seems to have said so. The mistress kept saying in a nervous way: You never care about me. You neglect me. You leave me alone. I also heard her say that Dr. Roberts was very kind to her." Like an angel.

"Then the doctor and the master went into the dressing room and closed the bedroom door——I heard him say it clearly: Man, didn't you find that Mrs. Zun was so excited? She didn't know what she was talking about. To be honest with you , she's very sick, if it wasn't for the matter - matter - oh, yes, it's my duty, I would have let go of it. That's what he said. He seemed to say that the line between doctor and patient should not be crossed And so on. The master quieted down, so he said: You will be late for work. You better go. Think about it quietly. You will find that this matter is not necessary. I wash my hands and go to see the next patient. You go Think about it, my friend. Let me tell you, it's all a madame's imagination.

"The host said: I don't know what to think. "He came out—I scrubbed vigorously, but he didn't pay me any attention. In hindsight, he seemed sick. The doctor whistled cheerfully, and washed his hands in the changing room, where there was hot and cold water. Then he Come out with the bag in hand, talk to me in a pleasant manner as usual, and leave as happy as usual. You knock, I'm sure he didn't do anything wrong. The problem is all her." "And then Craddock got anthrax?" "Yes, I think he was infected. The mistress devoted her attention to him, but he died. There were enchanting wreaths at the funeral."

"And then? Did Dr. Roberts come to the house again?" "No, no, mind your own business! You're upset with him. I tell you it's all right. If there was, he'd marry her after the mistress died, wouldn't he? And he didn't marry him. Not so stupid." He weighed her up. She kept calling him, and he wouldn't come. Then she sold the house, we all got layoffs, and she went abroad to Egypt." "You didn't see Dr. Roberts at all during that time." "No. But she did, because she went to his house to get a--what--a typhoid shot. She came back with a swollen arm. Tell you, he told her to quit. She didn't Call him again, and happily go abroad with a bunch of charming new clothes—although it is winter, the clothes are all light-colored, and she said that the sun is shining brightly there and the weather is very hot."

Inspector O'Connor said, "Yes, I heard it was too hot sometimes. She died over there. I suppose you know?" "No, I really don't know. Why, come to think of it! Poor girl, she might be worse than I thought." She sighed and said, "I don't know what to do with those beautiful clothes. The natives over there are blacks, so they can't wear those clothes." Inspector O'Connor said, "I think you'll look great in it." Elsie said, "Daredevil." Inspector O'Connor said, "Well, I won't take the liberty of bothering you for long. I have to go away on company business." "How long are you going to go?" "Perhaps abroad," said the inspector. Elsie's face darkened. Although she has never read Sir Byron's poem "I Never Loved an Antelope", her mood is the same as that in the poem.She thought to herself: Strange, really attractive objects always have no results.Oh, never mind, there's Fred anyway. Inspector O'Connor's sudden intrusion into Reflection's life seemed to have no long-term effect, and now she found Fred to be quite likable.Maybe Fred would benefit from it.