Inspector Alleyn 3-Book Collection 2. Ngaio Marsh

stolen yesterday afternoon?’

      ‘Why do you ask that, Miss Wade?’ said Alleyn quickly.

      ‘I only thought that perhaps that was what poor Cara meant when she said she would tell Father Garnette about it.’

      Alleyn gazed at Miss Wade rather as though she had suddenly produced a rabbit from somewhere behind her back teeth.

      ‘Would you mind saying that again?’ he asked.

      Miss Wade repeated her last remark in a somewhat louder voice but with perfect equanimity.

      ‘When,’ said Alleyn, ‘did Miss Quayne say this, and to whom?’

      ‘Yesterday afternoon, to be sure. When else?’

      ‘When else, of course,’ repeated Alleyn with some difficulty. ‘How do you know she said it, if I may ask?’

      ‘Really, officer! Because I overheard her. Naturally.’

      ‘Naturally. In the – the temple?’

      ‘In the temple. Naturally, in the temple.’

      ‘Naturally.’

      ‘It quite upset my meditation. I had come down early before the Neophytes’ instruction to make my preparation for the evening ceremony. I had chosen the word “bliss” and had just reached the Outer Portal of the Soul when this interruption occurred. It was provoking. I wished, afterwards, that I had chosen a back pew instead of my Initiate’s throne.’

      ‘I am extremely glad you didn’t,’ Alleyn managed to say.

      ‘Shall I continue?’

      ‘Please do.’

      ‘I had held my breath up to forty-five and exhaled slowly while inwardly repeating the word and, as I say, was about to enter the Outer Portal when she opened the door.’

      ‘Miss Quayne did?’

      ‘Who else? Before that I had not been aware of her presence in Father Garnette’s rooms. She had arrived before I did and had gone through the hall, no doubt. I left my overshoes outside,’ added Miss Wade with magnificent irrelevancy.

      ‘She opened the door into Mr Garnette’s rooms, and then you heard her?’

      ‘Yes. The curtain was hiding her, of course, but she raised her voice and, being in the front, I heard her. Indeed, I felt a little annoyed with dear Cara. The altar door should never be used in meditation hours. Except, of course, by Father himself. And it was well after meditation began. I glanced at my watch. Quarter to three it was.’

      ‘Miss Wade, can you repeat exactly what you overheard Miss Quayne say?’

      ‘Her very words. “I don’t believe you are speaking the truth” was what dear Cara said, “and I shall tell Father Garnette what you have done.”’

      Here Miss Wade paused and drew herself up with a little quiver.

      ‘To whom did she speak?’

      ‘I haven’t a notion,’ said Miss Wade cosily.

      Alleyn stifled a groan.

      ‘No,’ she went on, ‘that I do not know. Not Father, naturally.’

      ‘Naturally,’ repeated poor Alleyn.

      ‘Whoever it was, was quite inaudible. And then she came hurrying down in to the temple with a great lack of reverence, poor thing. She rushed past me without seeing me, though I remained kneeling and gave her a reproachful glance. There were some neophytes in the back pews. It really was naughty of Cara. Such a bad example.’

      ‘Did she seem much upset?’

      ‘Distracted,’ said Miss Wade.

      ‘Did anybody come out after her?’

      ‘On the contrary. Father Garnette came in at this door about five minutes later. He had been to lunch with M. de Ravigne. He spoke a few words to me. I had quite given up my meditation.’

      ‘Did you mention the incident to him?’

      ‘Now did I?’ mused Miss Wade with her head on one side. ‘No! Definitely not. I would have done so, but he spoke of Higher Things.’

      ‘Have you told anybody else?’

      ‘No, I think not.’

      ‘Then let me implore you not to do so, Miss Wade. What you have just told me is of the very greatest importance. Please promise me you will not repeat it.’

      Miss Wade bridled.

      ‘Really, officer,’ she said, ‘I am not accustomed –’

      ‘No, no. Never mind all that. Please don’t think me overbearing, but unless you will give me your word that you will keep this incident to yourself I – I shall be obliged to take very drastic measures. Miss Wade, it is for your own sake I insist on this silence. Do you understand?’

      ‘That I don’t,’ said Miss Wade with spirit.

      Alleyn took one of the little black kid claws in his hand, and he bent his head and smiled at Miss Wade.

      ‘Please,’ he said, ‘to oblige a poor policeman. Do promise.’

      She blinked up at him. Something rather youthful came back into her faded eyes. Her cheeks were pink.

      ‘It is a pity you have come down to this sort of work,’ said Miss Wade. ‘You have what my dear Mama used to call quite an air. Very well, I promise.’

      Alleyn made her a bow. She tossed her head and went off down the alleyway at a brisk trot.

      He stood there and looked thoughtfully after her, his hat in his hand. At last, with a shrug, he went out to where Inspector Fox waited for him in a police car.

      ‘What’s wrong with the old lady?’ asked Fox.

      ‘Nothing much. She just felt chatty.’

      ‘Anything of interest?’

      ‘Merely that she overheard Cara Quayne telling her murderer she’d speak to Garnette about him or her as the case may be.’

      ‘Lor’!’ said Fox. ‘When, for Gawd’s sake?’

      ‘At about a quarter to three yesterday afternoon.’

      ‘In the hall?’

      ‘Naturally,’ said Alleyn promptly. ‘Listen.’

      He repeated Miss Wade’s statement. Fox stared solemnly out of the window.

      ‘Well, that’s very interesting, sir,’ he said when Alleyn had finished. ‘That’s very interesting indeed. Do you think she caught him red-handed with the bonds?’

      ‘I wouldn’t be surprised. Or else he (or she, you know, Fox) refused to let her see them. There’s been some talk of her adding to those bonds. She may have wanted to do so on the eve of her first innings as Chosen Vessel.’

      ‘That’s right, sir. D’you think she was poisoned to keep her quiet?’

      ‘I think she was killed, in the end, to keep her quiet. But he meant to do it anyway.’

      ‘How do you make that out?’

      ‘If it’s sodium cyanide he couldn’t make it between three and eight o’clock. He must have had it ready.’

      ‘Then what was the motive?’

      ‘Same as before, Fox. Why are we sitting in this car?’

      ‘I dunno, sir.’

      ‘Tell him to drive – yes, tell him to drive to M. de Ravigne’s house.’

      Fox gave the order.

      ‘What happened to Mr Bathgate?’ asked Alleyn.