Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three

Richard Egerton looked again at the business card in front of him, then looked up at the Chief Inspector's face. "Strange thing," he said. "Yes, sir," said Chief Inspector Davy, "a very strange thing." "In the fog," said Egerton, "Bertram's Hotel. Yes, it was really foggy last night. I suppose you have a lot of things like that happening in foggy days, don't you? Scrambling for handbags—this one." something like that?" "Not quite," said "Pop," "nobody's trying to take anything from Miss Black."

"Where did the bullet come from?" "Because of the fog we can't be sure. She herself can't be sure. But we think—and this seems to be the best view—that the man might be standing in that area." "You said he shot her twice?" "Yes. The first shot missed. The doorman was standing outside the hotel gate and he rushed forward and just pushed her behind him when the man fired a second shot." "It hit him that way, didn't it?" "right." "What a warrior." "Yes, he is brave," said the Chief Inspector. "He has a very good service record. An Irishman."

"what is his name?" "Gorman. Michael Gorman." "Michael Gorman." Egerton frowned for a while. "No," he said, "I thought the name sounded familiar just now." "A very common name, of course. Anyway, he saved the girl's life." "What on earth have you come to me for, Mr. Chief Inspector?" "I want to know something. You know, the more we know about the victims of this deadly attack, the better." "Oh, of course, of course. But, to be honest, I've only seen her twice since she was little."

"You saw her when she called on you about a week ago, didn't you?" "Yes, exactly. What exactly do you want to know? If it's about her personality, who her friends are, or about her boyfriend or a couple quarrel--things like that--you'd better go to asked one of the women. I think there was a Mrs. Carpenter who brought her back from Italy, and a Mrs. Melfort with whom she lived in Kent." "I've seen Mrs. Melfort." "Oh." "It's no use, no help at all, sir. I don't really want to know anything about the girl personally, and besides, I've seen her myself and heard what she can tell me—or she's willing to tell me." of……"

Seeing Egerton's eyebrows move quickly, he knew that the other party appreciated his use of the word "willing". "I learned that she was agitated, frightened, and convinced that her life was in danger. Did you have that impression when she came to see you?" "No," said Egerton slowly, "no, I don't think so, but she did say a few things that struck me as odd." "for example……" "Well, she wonders who would benefit if she died suddenly?" "Ah," said Chief Inspector Davy, "so she thought of the possibility too, didn't she?—she might die suddenly. Interesting."

"She's definitely got something on her mind, but I don't know what it is. She also wants to know how much money she has — or how much money she'll have when she's twenty-one. Maybe that's a little easier to understand." "I think it must be a lot of money." "A considerable fortune, Mr. Chief Inspector." "Why do you think she wants to know?" "About money?" "Yes, and who will inherit it." "I don't know," said Egerton, "I don't know at all. She brought up the subject of marriage—"

"Do you have the impression—that there were men in the affair?" "I have no proof--but--yes, I did think so. I'm sure there's a man somewhere who's going to be her beau. Often! Luscombe--that's Colonel Luscombe , her guardian--seemed to know nothing about such matters. But soon, poor old Derek Luscombe was not. When I suggested to him that there was and probably was the same He gets very upset when something doesn't fit." "He's not fit," said Chief Inspector Davy. "Ah, so you know who he is?" "I can make a pretty good guess. He's Ladislaus Malinowski."

"The race car driver? Really? A good-looking daredevil. Women fall for him easily. I don't know how he met Elvira. I don't see how their trajectories could collide. together, unless... by the way, I think he was in Rome a few months ago, and that's where she might have met him." "Very likely. Or maybe she met him through her mother?" "What, by bass? I don't think it's possible." David coughed. "I heard that Mrs. Sedgwick and Malinowski were close friends, sir." "Oh, yes, yes. I know it's all gossip. It may or may not be true. They're great friends—their way of life keeps them bumping into each other a lot. Of course, Bess had an affair Romance, but I want to tell you that she's not a nymphomaniac. People like to talk about women like that, but as far as Bess is concerned, it's not true. Anyway, as far as I know, Bess and her The daughters hardly knew each other."

"Lady Sedgwick told me so. Do you think so?" Egerton nodded. "Has Miss Black any other relations of any kind?" "None, as a matter of fact. Her mother's two brothers were killed in the war--she was old Coniston's only child. Mrs Melfords, though the girl calls her 'Cousin Mildred', actually Colonel Luscombe's cousin. Luscombe did his best for the girl in the old way, conscientiously and responsibly, but it's . . . difficult for a man." "Miss Blake, you say, brought up the subject of marriage? She can't, I presume, actually be married?"

"She is far from being of age ... she must have the consent of her guardians and trustees." "Technically, yes. But they always can't wait to do that," said Papa. "I know. It's very regrettable. People have to go through the process of making them court protectors, etc. It's not easy to even do that." "Once they're married, they're married," said Father. "I guess if she gets married and dies suddenly, her husband will inherit?" "This idea of ​​marriage is unlikely. She has been carefully watched over, and..." He stopped at the sardonic smile on Chief Inspector Davy's face.

No matter how careful her care was, Elvira seemed to have succeeded in getting to know the very unsuitable Ladislas Malinowski. He said uncertainly: "Her mother ruled it out, you are right." "Her mother ruled it out, yes—she might do that—but Miss Black is a different kind of person. She's also the kind of person who can do whatever she wants to do, but the way she does it is very different." no the same." "You really don't think..." "I don't feel anything—not yet," said Chief Inspector Davy.