Chapter 12 12

12. Miss Lambsburton said: "So you're showing up like counterfeit money again." Lance grinned at her. "Aunt Effie, you are right." Miss Lambsburton snorted: "Hmph! You chose the right time. Your father was murdered yesterday. The police searched the house and even dug up the dustbin. I saw it from the window." She stopped, Then he inhaled through his nose and asked, "Did you bring your wife here?" "No, I'm leaving Patty in London." "That's a little brainy. If I were you, I'd never bring her up here. Who knows what might happen."

"Is something going to happen to her? Is something going to happen to Patty?" "Anyone is possible," said Miss Lambsburton. Lance Fortescu watched her thoughtfully. "Aunt Effie, what do you think about this?" he asked. Miss Lambsburton did not answer directly. "An inspector came here yesterday to question me. He didn't get any results. But he is not as stupid as he looks, so he is not." She said angrily, "Your grandpa knows that the police have come to this house. How'd he feel--he's not safe in his grave. He's been a Plymouth Quaker all his life. He found out I went to Anglican services at night, and wow! I'm sure That kind of thing doesn't hurt at all."

Normally Lance would smile when he heard such words, but now his long black face was still very serious.He said: "You know, I've been walking for so long that I don't know anything. What's happened here lately?" Miss Lambsburton looked up at the sky. She said firmly, "blasphemy is bad." "Yes, yes, Aunt Effie, you'd say that anyway. But why did the police think that Dad was killed in this house? " Miss Lambsburton said: "Adultery is one thing, murder is another, and I shouldn't be thinking about her, really." Lance seemed alert.He asked, "Adele?"

"My mouth was sealed and I couldn't speak," said Miss Lambsburton. Lance said, "Forget it, old aunt. It's a charming phrase, but it doesn't make any sense. Adele has a boyfriend? Adele and her boyfriend put poison in his morning tea. Is that the case?" "Please don't be joking." "You know I'm not joking." Miss Lambsburton said suddenly: "I'll tell you something. I believe the girl knows something." "Which girl?" Lance seemed surprised. Miss Lambsburton said: "The girl with the snorting nose. She should have brought me tea this afternoon, but she didn't. She went out without asking.

I wouldn't be surprised if she went to the police.Who will open the door for you? " "I heard it's called Mary Douf. She seems very docile—but not necessarily so. Is she going to the police? " Miss Lambsburton said: "She's not going to the police. No—I mean that stupid little maid. She's walking around like a rabbit all day long. I said: 'What's the matter with you?Do you have a bad conscience? ’ She said: ‘I didn’t do anything — I wouldn’t do that kind of thing. ’ I said to her, ‘I hope you don’t, but you have worries, don’t you? ’ and she snorted and said she didn’t want to get anyone in trouble, and she believed it must be a mistake.I said, 'Here, girl, you tell the truth and humiliate the devil. ' That's what I said.I said, 'Go to the police and tell them everything you know, because there is no good result in covering up the truth, no matter how unpleasant things are, you should not hide them. ’ Then she babbled and said she couldn’t go to the police, said they would never believe her, and what was she supposed to say?

In the end she said she didn't know anything. " Lance was vague: "You don't think she just wants to be noticed?" "No, I don't think so. I think she panicked. She might have seen or heard something and got a little idea of ​​it. It might or might not have mattered at all." "You don't think she could have held a grudge against my dad herself, and—" Lance hesitated. Miss Lambsburton shook her head decisively. "Your father would never pay attention to a girl like her. Poor girl, no man will pay attention to her. Oh, come on, I dare say it will be good for her soul."

Lance is not interested in Glady's soul. "You think she's going to the police?" he asked. Aunt Effie nodded desperately. "Yes, I suppose she would rather not say anything to them in this house, lest anyone should overhear." Lance asked, "You think she might have seen someone tampering with the food?" Aunt Effie shot him a quick look. "It's possible, isn't it?" she said. "Yes, I think so." Then he argued: "It's an absurd whole thing. It's like a detective story." "Mrs. Percival is a hospital nurse," said Miss Lambsburton.

This sentence seemed to have nothing to do with the previous topic, and Lance looked at her in bewilderment. Miss Lambsburton said: "Nurses in hospitals are used to medication." Lance seemed skeptical. "Has this stuff—taciine—ever been used as medicine?" Miss Lambsburton said: "It is said that it is squeezed from the yew berries. Children occasionally eat yew berries by mistake and become very ill. I remember a case when I was a child. I was so impressed that I will never forget it.Remembering things works sometimes. " Lance looked up sharply at her. Miss Lambsburton said: "Family affection is one thing, and I think mine is deeper than anyone else. But I do not support evil. Evil must be destroyed."

Mrs. Crump, who was rolling out the dough on the board, raised her angry red face and said: "Going out without telling me. Sneaking out without saying a word to anybody. Sly, that's all, sly! I'm afraid she won't be stopped, and if I catch her, I'll stop her! Think about it The master is dead, Master Lance hasn’t come home for many years, now I want to come back, I said to Crump: “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a vacation or not, I know my responsibility. I can’t eat like a normal Thursday tonight Cold food, respectable dinner. A gentleman brings his wife back from a foreign country - and she was married to a noble family before - we have to do everything in the right way.'You know my character, miss, you know I take pride in my work."

Mary Douf was listening to her confide in her heart and nodded slightly. Mrs. Crump raised her voice angrily. "What did Crump say? He said: 'I'm off today, I'm going out. What's the big deal about the nobility.' Crump, he doesn't take pride in his job. So he's gone and I told Gretty tonight Had to deal with it alone. All she said was, 'Okay, Mrs. Crump.' No sooner had I turned around than she slipped away. Today isn't her holiday. Friday is. What we're going to do now, I don't know! Luckily Lan Master Si didn't bring his wife back today."

Mary's tone was reassuring but authoritative: "We'll figure it out, Mrs. Crump, just simplify the menu." She made a few suggestions, and Mrs. Crump reluctantly complied.Finally Mary said, "That way I can bring up and serve with ease." Mrs. Crump seemed a little skeptical: "Miss, you mean you're going to serve the meal yourself?" "If Gretty doesn't come back by then." Mrs. Crump said: "She ain't coming back. Hanging out with the boys and spending some money in a shop somewhere. Miss, you know, she has a boyfriend, it's incredible to see her like that. His name is A. Bert. Married next spring, she told me. These girls don't know what it's like to be married and what I've been through with Crump. She sighed, and then said in a normal tone: "Miss, how about tea?" Who will tidy up and wash? " Mary said, "I'll come. I'll go now." Adele Fortescu was still sitting on the sofa behind the saucer, but the light in the small parlor was off. Mary asked, "Mrs. Fortescue, may I turn on the light?" Adele didn't answer. Mary turned on the light, went to the opposite window and drew the curtains.At this time, she turned her head and saw the face of the woman hanging limply on the sofa.Beside the dead man was a piece of bread spread with honey, half eaten, and a teacup half full.Adele Fortescue had died suddenly and violently. Inspector Neil asked anxiously, "What?" The doctor immediately said: "There's cyanide in the tea - probably potassium cyanide." Neal muttered, "Cyanide." The doctor looked at him curiously. "You don't quite believe—is there any particular reason—" "We initially suspected she was the killer," Neil said. "And she turned out to be the victim. Hmm. You'll have to reconsider, don't you?" Neil nodded.His expression was bitter, his jaw tensed. Poison!He was ignored.Tacien in Rex Fortescu's morning coffee, cyanide in Adele Fortescu's tea.Still an internal family affair, or so it seems. Adele Fortescu, Jennifer Fortescu, Alan Fortescu and Lance Fortescu, who just came back, are drinking tea in the library.Lance had gone upstairs to see Miss Lambsburton, Jennifer had gone to her sitting room to write letters, Ellen had finally come out of the library.According to her, Adele was in good health at the time and had just poured herself the last cup of tea. Last cup of tea!Yes, that was really her last cup of tea. About twenty minutes later, Mary Douf walked into the room and found the body. Those twenty minutes—Inspector Neil walked into the kitchen with a curse to himself. Mrs. Crump's fat body sat hostile in a chair by the cooking table, and she did not move when he entered. "What about the girl? Has she come back yet?" "Grady? No—she's not coming—I guess she won't be back until after eleven." "You said she brewed the tea and brought it in." "For God's sake, I didn't touch the tea. And I don't believe Gretty did anything she shouldn't have done. She wouldn't do that--Glatty wouldn't. My lord, she's a good girl-- Kind of stupid—not a bad nature." No, Neil doesn't think Gladys is a bad guy.He didn't think it was Gladys who had poisoned him.Besides, there is no cyanide in the teapot. "But why did she leave suddenly? You said today is not her holiday." "No, my lord, tomorrow is her holiday." "Crump—" Mrs. Crump's hostility suddenly revived.She raised her voice angrily. "Don't put the blame on Crump. Crump is not suspect. He went out at three o'clock--I'm glad he did. He's as innocent as Master Percival." Percival Fortescue had just returned from London--on entering he had heard of the astonishing second murder. Neil said softly, "I'm not accusing Crump. I'm just wondering if he knew about Glady's plan." Mrs Crump said: "She was wearing the best nylon stockings. She had plans. Didn't tell me!No sandwiches for tea either.Oh yes, she has plans. When she comes back, I will give her a lesson. " When she comes back—Neil is slightly uneasy.To shake off his doubts, he went upstairs to Adele Fortescue's bedroom.What a luxurious residence - full of rose brocade curtains, plus a gilded bed.One side of the room has a door leading to a mirrored bathroom with an orchid-coloured porcelain bathtub.On the other end of the bathroom is Rex Fortescu's dressing room, which is connected by an inner door.Neil walked back to Adele's bedroom and entered her living room through the inner door on the other side of the room. The room was furnished like an empire, with a rosemound rug.Neil had inspected the room yesterday - paying particular attention to the elegant little desk - and was only taking a cursory look at it now. However, he suddenly noticed something, and his whole body froze.There is a small patch of mud in the middle of the rose pile carpet. Neil went to pick it up.The soil was still wet. He looked around - saw no footprints - just this little patch of wet mud. Inspector Neal looked around at Gretty Martin's bedroom.It was past eleven - Crump had returned half an hour ago - and Glady was nowhere to be seen.Inspector Neil looked around.Regardless of Gladys training, her natural instinct is to be lazy.Inspector Neal judged that her beds were rarely made and her windows were rarely opened.But it wasn't Glady's personal habits that concerned him.Instead, he scrutinized her things. Mostly cheap and shabby clothing, with very little of durability or quality.He had called old Ellen to help, but she was of little use.She didn't know what clothes Gladys had; she couldn't tell if anything was missing.After finishing the clothes and underwear, he turned to the chest of drawers.All of Gretty's treasures are in there: picture postcards and clippings, knitting patterns, beauty tips, advice on clothing and grooming, and more. Inspector Neil divided these things into categories.The picture postcards were probably the scenery of several places, and he guessed that Gretty had spent holidays in those places.Three of them were signed with the nickname "Bert".He guessed that "Bert" was the "boyfriend" Mrs. Crump was referring to.The first postcard read in illiterate script: "All is well. Miss you very much.Enter Burt. The second said: "There are many beautiful girls here, but none of them can compare with you."See you soon.Don't forget the date we agreed on.Remember, after that day - great, live happily ever after. " The third just said, "Don't forget. I trust you. Love you Bert." Then Neil flipped through the clippings, sorting it into three piles: clothing and beauty tips, and movie star tidbits that Glady seemed to appreciate, and she seemed interested in the latest scientific marvel.There are flying saucers, secret weapons, Russians using truth medicine to tell people the truth, and American doctors discovering magic drugs in the clippings.Neil thought it was all twentieth-century witchcraft.But the reason for her disappearance could not be seen from the things in the house.She doesn't keep a diary, and he doesn't expect her to.The odds are too low.There were no unfinished letters, no record of what Rex Fortescu had seen in the house before she died.Whatever Glady saw, whatever Glady knew, was completely unrecorded.Why the second tea tray had been left in the hall, and why Gladys had suddenly disappeared, could only be guesswork. Neil sighed and walked out of the room, closing the door. He was about to go down the small winding staircase when he heard someone running along the landing below. Sergeant Haiyi looked up at him excitedly from the bottom of the stairs, a little out of breath. He said hurriedly, "Sir, sir! We found her—" "Find her?" "Sir, it's the maid—Ellen—remembering that the clothes were on the clothesline and hadn't come in yet—at the corner at the back door. So she went to collect them with a torch, tripped over the body, and nearly fell—it was the girl's Corpse—she was strangled, with a stocking wrapped around her throat—I think she's been dead for hours. Serious joke, sir—with a clothespin stuck to her nose— "