They Do It With Mirrors - Christie Agatha - Страница 27

'And a very beautiful girl.'

'Oh yes. I've always said Gina is good looking. A very common type in Italy, of course. But if you ask me, it's money that Walter Hudd is after. That's why he came over here and has settled down living on the Serrocolds.' 'Mrs Hudd is very well off, I understand?'

'Not at present. My father settled the same sum on Gina's mother as he did on me. But of course she took her husband's nationality (I believe the law is altered now) and what with the war and his being a Fascist, Gina has very little of her own. My mother spoils her, and her American aunt, Mrs Van Rydock, spent fabulous sums on her and bought her everything she wanted during the war years. Nevertheless, from Waiter's point of view, he can't lay his hands on much until my mother's death, when a very large fortune will come to Gina.'

'And to you, Mrs Strete.'

A faint colour came into Mildred Strete's cheek.

'And to me, as you say. My husband and myself always lived quietly. He spent very little money except on books - he was a great scholar. My own money has almost doubled itself. It is more than enough for my simple needs. Still one can always use money for the benefit of others. Any money that comes to me, I shall regard as a sacred trust.'

'But it won't be in a Trust, will it?' said Curry, wilfully misunderstanding. 'It will come to you absolutely.'

'Oh yes - in that sense. Yes, it will be mine absolutely.' Something in the ring of that last word made Inspector Curry raise his head sharply. Mrs Strete was not looking at him. Her eyes were shining, and her long thin mouth was curved in a triumphant smile.

Inspector said in a considering voice:

'So in your view - and of course you've had ample opportunities of judging - Master Walter Hudd wants the money that will come to his wife when Mrs Serrocold dies. By the way, she's not very strong, is she, Mrs Strete?'

'My mother has always been delicate.'

'Quite so. But delicate people ' often live as long or longer than people who have robust health.'

'Yes, I suppose they do.'

'You haven't noticed your mother's health failing just lately?'

'She suffers from rheumatism. But then one must have something as one grows older. I've no sympathy with people who make a fuss over inevitable aches and pains.' 'Does Mrs Serrocold make a fuss?'

Mildred Strete was silent for a moment. She said at last:

'She does not make a fuss herself, but she is used to being made a fuss of. My stepfather is far too solicitous.

And as for Miss Believer, she makes herself positively ridiculous. In any case, Miss Believer has had a very bad influence in this house. She came here many years ago, and her devotion to my mother, though admirable in itself, has really become somewhat of an infliction. She literally tyrannizes over my mother. She runs the whole house and takes far too much upon herself. I think it annoys Lewis sometimes. I should never be surprised if he told her to go. She has no tact - no tact whatever, and it is trying for a man to fred his wife completely dominated by a bossy woman.' Inspector Curry nodded his head gently.

'I see… I see…' He watched her speculatively.

'There's one thing I don't quite get, Mrs Strete. The position of the two Restarick brothers?' 'More foolish sentiment. Their father married my poor mother for her money. Two years afterwards he ran away with a Jugoslavian singer of the lowest morals. He was a very unworthy person. My mother was softhearted enough to be sorry for these two boys. Since it was out of the question for them to spend their holidays with a woman of such notorious morals, she more or less adopted them. They have been hangers-on here ever since. Oh yes, we've plenty of spongers in this house, I can tell you that.' 'Alex Restarick had an opportunity of killing Christian Gulbrandsen. He was in his car alone - driving from the Lodge to the house - what about Stephen?' 'Stephen was in the Hall with us. I don't approve of Alex Restarick - he is getting to look very coarse, and I imagine he leads an irregular life - but I don't really see him as a murderer. Besides, why should he kill my brother?' 'That's what we always come back to, isn't it?' said Inspector Curry genially. 'What did Christian Gul- brandsen know - about someone - that made it necessary for that someone to kill him?' 'Exactly,' said Mrs Strete triumphantly. 'It must be Walter Hudd.' 'Unless it's someone nearer home.' Mildred said sharply: 'What did you mean by that?' Inspector Curry said slowly: 'Mr Gulbrandsen seemed very concerned about Mrs Serrocold's health whilst he was here.' Mrs Strete frowned.

Then always fuss over mother because she looks fragile. I think she likes them to! Or else Christian had been listening to Juliet Believer.' 'You're not worried about your mother's health yourself, Mrs Strete?' 'No. I hope I'm sensible. Naturally mother is not young ' 'And death comes to all of us,' said Inspector Curry.

'But not ahead of its appointed time. That's what we have to prevent.' He spoke meaningly. Mildred Strete flared into sudden animation.

'Oh it's wicked - wicked. No one else here really seems to care. Why should they? I'm the only person who was a blood relation to Christian. To mother, he was only a grown-up stepson. To Gina, he isn't really any relation at all. But he was my own brother.' 'Half-brother,' suggested Inspector Curry.

'Half-brother, yes. But we were both Gulbrandsens in spite of the difference in age.' Curry said gently: 'Yes - yes, I see your point…'

Tears in her eyes, Mildred Strete marched out. Curry looked at Lake.

'So she's quite sure it's Walter Hudd,' he said. 'Won't entertain for a moment the idea of its being anybody else.' 'And she may be right.'

'She certainly may. Wally fits. Opportunity - and motive. Because if he wants money quick, his wife's mother would have to die. So Wally tampers with her tonic, and Christian Gulbrandsen sees him do it - or hears about it in some way. Yes, it fits very nicely.' He paused and said:

'By the way, Mildred Strete likes money… She mayn't spend it, but she likes it. I'm not sure why… She may be a miser - with a miser's passion. Or she may like the power that money gives. Money for benevolence, perhaps? She's a Gulbrandsen. She may want to emulate Father.'

'Complex, isn't it?' said Sergeant Lake, and scratched his head.

Inspector Curry said:

'We'd better see this screwy young man Lawson, and after that we'll go to the Great Hall and work out who was where - and if- and why - and when… We've heard one or two rather interesting things this morning.' II It was very difficult, Inspector Curry thought, to get a true estimate of someone from what other people said.

Edgar Lawson had been described by a good many different people that morning, but looking at him now, Curry's own impressions were almost ludicrously different.

Edgar did not impress him as 'queer' or 'dangerous,' or 'arrogant' or even as 'abnormal.' He seemed a very ordinary young man, very much cast down and in a state of humility approaching that of Uriah Heep's. He looked young and slightly common and rather pathetic.

He was only too anxious to talk and to apologize.

'I know I've done very wrong. I don't know what came over me - really I don't. Making that scene and kicking up such a row. And actually shooting off a pistol. At Mr Serrocold too, who's been so good to me and so patient, tOO.'

He twisted his hands nervously. They were rather pathetic hands, with bony wrists.

'If I've got to be had up for it, I'll come with you at once. I deserve it. I'll plead guilty.'

'No charge has been made against you,' said Inspector Curry crisply. 'So we've no evidence on which to act.

According to Mr Serrocold, letting off the pistol was an accident.'

'That's because he's so good. There never was a man as good as Mr Serrocold! He's done everything for me. And