Ordeal by Innocence. Agatha Christie

you tell me exactly who was in that house on the night Mrs Argyle was killed?’

      Marshall gave him a sharp glance.

      ‘Leo Argyle, of course, and the youngest daughter, Hester. Mary Durrant and her invalid husband were there on a visit. He had just come out of hospital. Then there was Kirsten Lindstrom–whom you probably met–she is a Swedish trained nurse and masseuse who originally came to help Mrs Argyle with her war nursery and has remained on ever since. Michael and Tina were not there–Michael works as a car salesman in Drymouth and Tina has a job in the County Library at Redmyn and lives in a flat there.’

      Marshall paused before going on.

      ‘There was also Miss Vaughan, Mr Argyle’s secretary. She had left the house before the body was discovered.’

      ‘I met her also,’ said Calgary. ‘She seems very–attached to Mr Argyle.’

      ‘Yes–yes. I believe there may shortly be an engagement announced.’ ‘Ah!’

      ‘He has been very lonely since his wife died,’ said the lawyer, with a faint note of reproof in his voice.

      ‘Quite so,’ said Calgary.

      Then he said:

      ‘What about motive, Mr Marshall?’

      ‘My dear Dr Calgary, I really cannot speculate as to that!’

      ‘I think you can. As you have said yourself the facts are ascertainable.’

      ‘There was no direct monetary benefit to anyone. Mrs Argyle had entered into a series of discretionary Trusts, a formula which as you know is much adopted nowadays. These Trusts were in favour of all the children. They are administered by three Trustees, of whom I am one, Leo Argyle is one and the third is an American lawyer, a distant cousin of Mrs Argyle’s. The very large sum of money involved is administered by these three Trustees and can be adjusted so as to benefit those beneficiaries of the Trust who need it most.’

      ‘What about Mr Argyle? Did he profit in a monetary sense by his wife’s death?’

      ‘Not to any great extent. Most of her fortune, as I have told you, had gone into Trusts. She left him the residue of her estate, but that did not amount to a large sum.’

      ‘And Miss Lindstrom?’

      ‘Mrs Argyle had bought a very handsome annuity for Miss Lindstrom some years previously.’ Marshall added irritably, ‘Motive? There doesn’t seem to me a ha’porth of motive about. Certainly no financial motive.’

      ‘And in the emotional field? Was there any special–friction?’

      ‘There, I’m afraid, I can’t help you.’ Marshall spoke with finality. ‘I wasn’t an observer of the family life.’

      ‘Is there anyone who could?’

      Marshall considered for a moment or two. Then he said, almost reluctantly:

      ‘You might go and see the local doctor. Dr–er–MacMaster, I think his name is. He’s retired now, but still lives in the neighbourhood. He was medical attendant to the war nursery. He must have known and seen a good deal of the life at Sunny Point. Whether you can persuade him to tell you anything is up to you. But I think that if he chose, he might be helpful, though–pardon me for saying this–do you think it likely that you can accomplish anything that the police cannot accomplish much more easily?’

      ‘I don’t know,’ said Calgary. ‘Probably not. But I do know this. I’ve got to try. Yes, I’ve got to try.’