Sparkling Cyanide Part 14

"I've something I want to ask you all. A year ago, more or less, we were here before on an evening that ended tragically. I don't want to recall here before on an evening that ended tragically. I don't want to recall past sadness, but it's just that I don't want to feel that Rosemary is past sadness, but it's just that I don't want to feel that Rosemary is completely forgotten. I'll ask you to drink to her memory - for completely forgotten. I'll ask you to drink to her memory - for Remembrance sake." Remembrance sake."

He raised his gla.s.s. Everybody obediently raised theirs. Their faces were polite masks. were polite masks.

George said: "To Rosemary for remembrance."

The gla.s.ses were raised to their lips. They drank.

There was a pause - then George swayed forward and slumped down in his chair, his hands rising frenziedly to his neck, his face turning in his chair, his hands rising frenziedly to his neck, his face turning purple as he fought for breath. purple as he fought for breath.

It took him a minute and a half to die.

Book III - IRIS

"For I thought that the dead had peace But it is not so..."

Chapter 1.

Colonel Race turned into the doorway of New Scotland Yard. He filled in the form that was brought forward and a very few minutes later he in the form that was brought forward and a very few minutes later he was shaking hands with Chief Inspector Kemp in the latter's room. was shaking hands with Chief Inspector Kemp in the latter's room.

The two men were well acquainted. Kemp was slightly reminiscent of that grand old veteran, Battle, in type. Indeed, since he had worked that grand old veteran, Battle, in type. Indeed, since he had worked under Battle for many years, he had perhaps unconsciously copied a under Battle for many years, he had perhaps unconsciously copied a good many of the older man's mannerisms. He bore about him the good many of the older man's mannerisms. He bore about him the same suggestion of being carved all in one piece - but whereas Battle same suggestion of being carved all in one piece - but whereas Battle had suggested some wood such as teak or oak. Chief Inspector Kemp had suggested some wood such as teak or oak. Chief Inspector Kemp suggested a somewhat more showy wood - mahogany, say, or good suggested a somewhat more showy wood - mahogany, say, or good old-fas.h.i.+oned rose-wood. old-fas.h.i.+oned rose-wood.

"It was good of you to ring us, colonel," said Kemp. "We shall want all the help we can get on this case." the help we can get on this case."

"It seems to have got us into exalted hands," said Race.

Kemp did not make modest disclaimers. He accepted quite simply the indubitable fact that only cases of extreme delicacy, wide publicity or indubitable fact that only cases of extreme delicacy, wide publicity or supreme importance came his way. He said seriously: supreme importance came his way. He said seriously: "It's the Kidderminster connection. You can imagine that means careful going." careful going."

Race nodded. He had met Lady Alexandra Farraday several times. One of those quiet women of una.s.sailable position whom it seems fantastic of those quiet women of una.s.sailable position whom it seems fantastic to a.s.sociate with sensational publicity. He had heard her speak on to a.s.sociate with sensational publicity. He had heard her speak on public platforms - without eloquence, but clearly and competently, public platforms - without eloquence, but clearly and competently, with a good grasp of her subject, and with an excellent delivery. with a good grasp of her subject, and with an excellent delivery.

The kind of woman whose public life was in all the papers, and whose private life was practically non-existent except as a bland domestic private life was practically non-existent except as a bland domestic background. background.

Nevertheless, he thought, such women have a private life. They know despair, and love, and the agonies of jealousy. They can lose control despair, and love, and the agonies of jealousy. They can lose control and risk life itself on a pa.s.sionate gamble. and risk life itself on a pa.s.sionate gamble.

He said curiously: "Suppose she 'done it,' Kemp?"

"Lady Alexandra? Do you think she did, sir?"

"I've no idea. But suppose she did. Or her husband - who comes under the Kidderminster mantle." the Kidderminster mantle."

The steady sea-green eyes of Chief Inspector Kemp looked in an untroubled way into Race's dark ones. untroubled way into Race's dark ones.

"If either of them did murder, we'll do our level best to hang him or her. You know that. There's no fear and no favour for murderers in this You know that. There's no fear and no favour for murderers in this country. But we'll have to be absolutely sure of our evidence - the country. But we'll have to be absolutely sure of our evidence - the public prosecutor will insist on that." public prosecutor will insist on that."

Race nodded.

Then he said, "Let's have the doings."

"George Barton died of cyanide poisoning - same thing as his wife a year ago. You said you were actually in the restaurant?" year ago. You said you were actually in the restaurant?"

"Yes. Barton had asked me to join his party. I refused. I didn't like what he was doing. I protested against it and urged him, if he had doubts he was doing. I protested against it and urged him, if he had doubts about his wife's death, to go to the proper people - to you." about his wife's death, to go to the proper people - to you."

Kemp nodded: "That's what he ought to have done."

"Instead he persisted in an idea of his own - setting a trap for the murderer. He wouldn't tell me what that trap was. I was uneasy about murderer. He wouldn't tell me what that trap was. I was uneasy about the whole business - so much so that I went to the Luxembourg last the whole business - so much so that I went to the Luxembourg last night so as to keep an eye on things. My table, necessarily, was some night so as to keep an eye on things. My table, necessarily, was some distance away - I didn't want to be spotted too obviously. Unfortunately distance away - I didn't want to be spotted too obviously. Unfortunately I can tell you nothing. I saw nothing in the least suspicious. The waiters I can tell you nothing. I saw nothing in the least suspicious. The waiters and his own party were the only people who approached the table." and his own party were the only people who approached the table."

"Yes," said Kemp, "it narrows it down, doesn't it? It was one of them or it was the waiter, Giuseppe Balsano. I've got him on the mat again this it was the waiter, Giuseppe Balsano. I've got him on the mat again this morning - thought you might like to see him - but I can't believe he had morning - thought you might like to see him - but I can't believe he had anything to do with it. Been at the Luxembourg for twelve years - good anything to do with it. Been at the Luxembourg for twelve years - good reputation, married, three children, good record behind him. Gets on reputation, married, three children, good record behind him. Gets on well with all the clients." well with all the clients."

"Which leaves us with the guests."

"Yes. The same party as was present when Mrs Barton died."

"What about that business, Kemp?"

"I've been going into it since it seems pretty obvious that the two hang together. Adams handled it. It wasn't what we call a clear case of together. Adams handled it. It wasn't what we call a clear case of suicide, but suicide was the most probable solution and in the absence suicide, but suicide was the most probable solution and in the absence of any direct evidence suggesting murder, one had to let it go as of any direct evidence suggesting murder, one had to let it go as suicide. Couldn't do anything else. We've a good many cases like that suicide. Couldn't do anything else. We've a good many cases like that in our records, as you know. Suicide with a query mark. The public in our records, as you know. Suicide with a query mark. The public doesn't know about the query mark - but we keep it in mind. doesn't know about the query mark - but we keep it in mind. Sometimes we go on quite a bit hunting about quietly. Sometimes we go on quite a bit hunting about quietly.

"Sometimes something crops up - sometimes it doesn't. In this case it didn't." didn't."

"Until now."

"Until now. Somebody tipped Mr Barton off to the fact that his wife had been murdered. He got busy on his own - he as good as announced been murdered. He got busy on his own - he as good as announced that he was on the right track - whether he was or not I don't know - but that he was on the right track - whether he was or not I don't know - but the murderer must have thought so - so the murderer gets rattled and the murderer must have thought so - so the murderer gets rattled and b.u.mps off Mr Barton. That seems the way of it as far as I can see - I b.u.mps off Mr Barton. That seems the way of it as far as I can see - I hope you agree?" hope you agree?"

"Oh, yes - that part of it seems straightforward enough. G.o.d knows what the 'trap' was - I noticed that there was an empty chair at the what the 'trap' was - I noticed that there was an empty chair at the table. Perhaps it was waiting for some unexpected witness. Anyhow it table. Perhaps it was waiting for some unexpected witness. Anyhow it accomplished rather more than it was meant to do. It alarmed the accomplished rather more than it was meant to do. It alarmed the guilty person so much that he or she didn't wait for the trap to be guilty person so much that he or she didn't wait for the trap to be sprung." sprung."

"Well," said Kemp, "we've got five suspects. And we've got the first case to go on - Mrs Barton." case to go on - Mrs Barton."

"You're definitely of the opinion now that it was not suicide?"

"This murder seems to prove that it wasn't. Though I don't think you can blame us at the time for accepting the suicide theory as the most can blame us at the time for accepting the suicide theory as the most probable. There was some evidence for it." probable. There was some evidence for it."

"Depression after influenza?"

Kemp's wooden face showed a ripple of a smile.

"That was for the coroner's court. Agreed with the medical evidence and saved everybody's feelings. That's done every day. And there was and saved everybody's feelings. That's done every day. And there was a half-finished letter to the sister directing how her personal a half-finished letter to the sister directing how her personal belongings were to be given away - showed she'd had the idea of doing belongings were to be given away - showed she'd had the idea of doing away with herself in her mind. She was depressed all right, I don't away with herself in her mind. She was depressed all right, I don't doubt, poor lady - but nine times out of ten, with women, it's a love doubt, poor lady - but nine times out of ten, with women, it's a love affair. With men it's mostly money worries." affair. With men it's mostly money worries."

"So you knew Mrs Barton had a love affair."

"Yes, we soon found that out. It had been discreet - but it didn't take much finding." much finding."

"Stephen Farraday?"

"Yes. They used to meet in a little flat out Earl's Court way. It had been going on for over six months. Say they'd had a quarrel - or possibly he going on for over six months. Say they'd had a quarrel - or possibly he was getting tired of her - well, she wouldn't be the first woman to take was getting tired of her - well, she wouldn't be the first woman to take her life in a fit of desperation." her life in a fit of desperation."

"By pota.s.sium cyanide in a public restaurant?"

"Yes - if she wanted to be dramatic about it - with him looking on and all. Some people have a feeling for the spectacular. From what I could all. Some people have a feeling for the spectacular. From what I could find out she hadn't much feeling for the conventions - all the find out she hadn't much feeling for the conventions - all the precautions were on his side." precautions were on his side."

"Any evidence as to whether his wife knew what was going on?"

"As far as we could learn she knew nothing about it."

"She may have, for all that, Kemp. Not the kind of woman to wear her heart on her sleeve." heart on her sleeve."

"Oh, quite so. Count them both in as possibles. She for jealousy. He for his career. Divorce would have dished that. Not that divorce means as his career. Divorce would have dished that. Not that divorce means as much as it used to, but in his case it would have meant the antagonism much as it used to, but in his case it would have meant the antagonism of the Kidderminster clan." of the Kidderminster clan."

"What about the secretary girl?"

"She's a possible. Might have been sweet on George Barton. They were pretty thick at the office and there's an idea there that she was were pretty thick at the office and there's an idea there that she was keen on him. Actually yesterday afternoon one of the telephone girls keen on him. Actually yesterday afternoon one of the telephone girls was giving an imitation of Barton holding Ruth Lessing's hand and was giving an imitation of Barton holding Ruth Lessing's hand and saying he couldn't do without her, and Miss Lessing came out and saying he couldn't do without her, and Miss Lessing came out and caught them and sacked the girl there and then - gave her a month's caught them and sacked the girl there and then - gave her a month's money and told her to go. Looks as though she was sensitive about it money and told her to go. Looks as though she was sensitive about it all. Then the sister came into a peck of money - one's got to remember all. Then the sister came into a peck of money - one's got to remember that. Looked a nice kid, but you can never tell. And there was Mrs that. Looked a nice kid, but you can never tell. And there was Mrs Barton's other boy friend." Barton's other boy friend."

"I'm rather anxious to hear what you know about him?"

Kemp said slowly: "Remarkably little - but what there is isn't too good. His pa.s.sport's in order. He's an American citizen about whom we can't His pa.s.sport's in order. He's an American citizen about whom we can't find out anything, detrimental or otherwise. He came over here, stayed find out anything, detrimental or otherwise. He came over here, stayed at Claridge's and managed to strike up an acquaintance with Lord at Claridge's and managed to strike up an acquaintance with Lord Dewsbury." Dewsbury."

"Confidence man?"

"Might be. Dewsbury seems to have fallen for him - asked him to stay. Rather a critical time just then." Rather a critical time just then."

"Armaments," said Race. "There was that trouble about the new tank trials in Dewsbury's works." trials in Dewsbury's works."

"Yes. This fellow Browne represented himself as interested in armaments. It was soon after he'd been up there that they discovered armaments. It was soon after he'd been up there that they discovered that sabotage business - just in the nick of time. Browne met a good that sabotage business - just in the nick of time. Browne met a good many cronies of Dewsbury - he seems to have cultivated all the ones many cronies of Dewsbury - he seems to have cultivated all the ones who were connected with the armament firms. As a result he's been who were connected with the armament firms. As a result he's been shown a lot of stuff that in my opinion he ought never to have seen - shown a lot of stuff that in my opinion he ought never to have seen - and in one or two cases there's been serious trouble in the works not and in one or two cases there's been serious trouble in the works not long after he's been in the neighbourhood." long after he's been in the neighbourhood."

"An interesting person, Mr Anthony Browne?"

"Yes. He's got a lot of charm, apparently, and plays it for all he's worth." worth."

"And where did Mrs Barton come in? George Barton hasn't anything to do with the armament world?" do with the armament world?"

"No. But they seem to have been fairly intimate. He may have let out something to her. You know, colonel, none better, what a pretty something to her. You know, colonel, none better, what a pretty woman can get out of a man." woman can get out of a man."

Race nodded, taking the Chief Inspector's words, as meant, to refer to the Counter-Espionage Department which he had once controlled and the Counter-Espionage Department which he had once controlled and not as some ignorant person might have thought - to some personal not as some ignorant person might have thought - to some personal indiscretions of his own. indiscretions of his own.

He said after a minute or two: "Have you had a go at those letters that George Barton received?" George Barton received?"

"Yes. Found them in his desk at his house last night. Miss Marle found them for me." them for me."

"You know I'm interested in those letters, Kemp. What's the expert opinion on them?" opinion on them?"

"Cheap paper, ordinary ink - fingerprints show George Barton and Iris Marle handled them - and a horde of unidentified dabs on the envelope, Marle handled them - and a horde of unidentified dabs on the envelope, postal employees, etc. They were printed and the experts say by postal employees, etc. They were printed and the experts say by someone of good education in normal health." someone of good education in normal health."

"Good education. Not a servant?"

"Presumably not."

"That makes it more interesting still."

"It means that somebody else had suspicions, at least."

"Someone who didn't go to the police. Someone who was prepared to arouse George's suspicions but who didn't follow the business up. arouse George's suspicions but who didn't follow the business up. There's something odd there, Kemp. He couldn't have written them There's something odd there, Kemp. He couldn't have written them himself, could he?" himself, could he?"

"He could have. But why?"

"As a preliminary to suicide - a suicide which he intended to look like murder." murder."

"With Stephen Farraday booked for the hangman's rope? It's an idea - but he'd have made quite sure that everything pointed to Farraday as but he'd have made quite sure that everything pointed to Farraday as the murderer. As it is we've nothing against Farraday at all." the murderer. As it is we've nothing against Farraday at all."

"What about cyanide? Was there any container found?"

"Yes. A small white paper packet under the table. Traces of cyanide crystals inside. No fingerprints on it. In a detective story, of course, it crystals inside. No fingerprints on it. In a detective story, of course, it would be some special kind of paper or folded in some special way. I'd would be some special kind of paper or folded in some special way. I'd like to give these detective story writers a course of routine work. like to give these detective story writers a course of routine work. They'd soon learn how most things are untraceable and n.o.body ever They'd soon learn how most things are untraceable and n.o.body ever notices anything anywhere!" notices anything anywhere!"

Race smiled.

"Almost too sweeping a statement. Did anybody notice anything last night?" night?"

"Actually that's what I'm starting on today. I took a brief statement from everyone last night and I went back to Elvaston Square with Miss from everyone last night and I went back to Elvaston Square with Miss Marle and had a look through Barton's desk and papers. I shall get Marle and had a look through Barton's desk and papers. I shall get fuller statements from them all today - also statements from the people fuller statements from them all today - also statements from the people sitting at the other two tables in the alcoves -" He rustled through sitting at the other two tables in the alcoves -" He rustled through some papers - "Yes, here they are. Gerald Tollington, Grenadier some papers - "Yes, here they are. Gerald Tollington, Grenadier Guards, and the Hon. Patricia Brice-Woodworth. Young engaged Guards, and the Hon. Patricia Brice-Woodworth. Young engaged couple. I'll bet they didn't see anything but each other. And Mr Pedro couple. I'll bet they didn't see anything but each other. And Mr Pedro Morales - nasty bit of goods from Mexico - even the whites of his eyes Morales - nasty bit of goods from Mexico - even the whites of his eyes are yellow - and Miss Christine Shannon - a gold-digging blonde lovely - are yellow - and Miss Christine Shannon - a gold-digging blonde lovely - I'll bet she didn't see anything - dumber than you'd believe possible I'll bet she didn't see anything - dumber than you'd believe possible except where money is concerned. It's a hundred to one chance that except where money is concerned. It's a hundred to one chance that any of them saw anything, but I took their names and addresses on the any of them saw anything, but I took their names and addresses on the off chance. We'll start off with the waiter chap, Giuseppe. He's here off chance. We'll start off with the waiter chap, Giuseppe. He's here now. I'll have him sent in." now. I'll have him sent in."

Chapter 2.

Giuseppe Balsano was a middle-aged man, slight with a rather monkey-like intelligent face. He was nervous, but not unduly so. His monkey-like intelligent face. He was nervous, but not unduly so. His English was fluent since he had, he explained, been in the country English was fluent since he had, he explained, been in the country since he was sixteen and had married an English wife. since he was sixteen and had married an English wife.

Kemp treated him sympathetically.

"Now then, Giuseppe, let's hear whether anything more has occurred to you about this." to you about this."

"It is for me very unpleasant. It is I who serve that table. I who pour out the wine. People will say that I am off my head, that I put poison into the wine. People will say that I am off my head, that I put poison into the wine gla.s.ses. It is not so, but that is what people will say. Already, the wine gla.s.ses. It is not so, but that is what people will say. Already, Mr Goldstein says it is better that I take a week away from work - so Mr Goldstein says it is better that I take a week away from work - so that people do not ask me questions there and point me out. He is a that people do not ask me questions there and point me out. He is a fair man, and just, and he knows it is not my fault, and that I have been fair man, and just, and he knows it is not my fault, and that I have been there for many years, so he does not dismiss me as some restaurant there for many years, so he does not dismiss me as some restaurant owners would do. M. Charles, too, he has been kind, but all the same it owners would do. M. Charles, too, he has been kind, but all the same it is a great misfortune for me - and it makes me afraid. Have I an enemy, is a great misfortune for me - and it makes me afraid. Have I an enemy, I ask myself?" I ask myself?"

"Well," said Kemp at his most wooden, "have you?"

The sad monkey-face twitched into laughter. Giuseppe stretched out his arms. his arms.

"I? I have not an enemy in the world. Many good friends but no enemies." enemies."