Sparkling Cyanide Part 23

Anthony nodded his head agreeably.

"I know. When there's money, families are inclined to be abominably nosy. And Iris, you see, doesn't know anything about my murky past. nosy. And Iris, you see, doesn't know anything about my murky past. Frankly, I'd rather she didn't." Frankly, I'd rather she didn't."

"I'm afraid she is going to know all about it."

"A pity," said Anthony.

"Possibly you don't realise -"

Anthony cut in with a laugh.

"Oh! I can dot the i's and cross the t's. Rosemary Barton knew my criminal past, so I killed her. George Barton was growing suspicious of criminal past, so I killed her. George Barton was growing suspicious of me, so I killed him! Now I'm after Iris's money! It's all very agreeable me, so I killed him! Now I'm after Iris's money! It's all very agreeable and it hangs together nicely, but you haven't got a mite of proof." and it hangs together nicely, but you haven't got a mite of proof."

Race looked at him attentively for some minutes. Then he got up.

"Everything I have said is true," he said. "And it's all wrong."

Anthony watched him narrowly. "What's wrong?"

"You're wrong." Race walked slowly up and down the room. "It hung together all right until I saw you - but now I've seen you, it won't do. together all right until I saw you - but now I've seen you, it won't do. You're not a crook. And if you're not a crook, you're one of our kind. I'm You're not a crook. And if you're not a crook, you're one of our kind. I'm right, aren't I?" right, aren't I?"

Anthony looked at him in silence while a smile slowly broadened on his face. Then he hummed softly under his breath. face. Then he hummed softly under his breath.

"'For the Colonel's lady and Judy O'Grady are sisters under the skin.'

Yes, funny how one knows one's own kind. That's why I've tried to avoid meeting you. I was afraid you'd spot me for what I am. It was avoid meeting you. I was afraid you'd spot me for what I am. It was important then that n.o.body should know - important up to yesterday. important then that n.o.body should know - important up to yesterday. Now, thank goodness, the balloon's gone up! We've swept our gang of Now, thank goodness, the balloon's gone up! We've swept our gang of international saboteurs into the net. I've been working on this international saboteurs into the net. I've been working on this a.s.signment for three years. Frequenting certain meetings, agitating a.s.signment for three years. Frequenting certain meetings, agitating among workmen, getting myself the right reputation. Finally it was among workmen, getting myself the right reputation. Finally it was fixed that I pulled an important job and got sentenced. The business fixed that I pulled an important job and got sentenced. The business had to be genuine if I was to establish my bona fides. had to be genuine if I was to establish my bona fides.

"When I came out, things began to move. Little by little I got further into the centre of things - a great international net run from Central into the centre of things - a great international net run from Central Europe. It was as their agent I came to London and went to Claridge's. Europe. It was as their agent I came to London and went to Claridge's. I had orders to get on friendly terms with Lord Dewsbury - that was my I had orders to get on friendly terms with Lord Dewsbury - that was my lay, the social b.u.t.terfly! I got to know Rosemary Barton in my lay, the social b.u.t.terfly! I got to know Rosemary Barton in my character of attractive young man about town. Suddenly, to my horror, character of attractive young man about town. Suddenly, to my horror, I found that she knew I had been in prison in America as Tony Morelli. I I found that she knew I had been in prison in America as Tony Morelli. I was terrified for her! The people I was working with would have had was terrified for her! The people I was working with would have had her killed without a moment's hesitation if they had thought she knew her killed without a moment's hesitation if they had thought she knew that. I did my best to scare her into keeping her mouth shut, but I that. I did my best to scare her into keeping her mouth shut, but I wasn't very hopeful. Rosemary was born to be indiscreet. I thought the wasn't very hopeful. Rosemary was born to be indiscreet. I thought the best thing I could do was to sheer off - and then I saw Iris coming down best thing I could do was to sheer off - and then I saw Iris coming down a staircase, and I swore that after my job was done I would come back a staircase, and I swore that after my job was done I would come back and marry her. and marry her.

"When the active part of my work was over, I turned up again and got into touch with Iris, but I kept aloof from the house and her people for I into touch with Iris, but I kept aloof from the house and her people for I knew they'd want to make inquiries about me and I had to keep under knew they'd want to make inquiries about me and I had to keep under cover for a bit longer. But I got worried about her. She looked ill and cover for a bit longer. But I got worried about her. She looked ill and afraid - and George Barton seemed to be behaving in a very odd afraid - and George Barton seemed to be behaving in a very odd fas.h.i.+on. I urged her to come away and marry me. Well, she refused. fas.h.i.+on. I urged her to come away and marry me. Well, she refused. Perhaps she was right. And then I was roped in for this party. It was as Perhaps she was right. And then I was roped in for this party. It was as we sat down to dinner that George mention you were to be there. I said we sat down to dinner that George mention you were to be there. I said rather quickly that I'd met a man I knew and might have to leave early. rather quickly that I'd met a man I knew and might have to leave early. Actually I had seen a fellow I knew in America - Monkey Coleman - Actually I had seen a fellow I knew in America - Monkey Coleman - though he didn't remember me - but I really wanted to avoid meeting though he didn't remember me - but I really wanted to avoid meeting you. I was still on my job. you. I was still on my job.

"You know what happened next - George died. I had nothing to do with his death or with Rosemary's. I don't know now who did kill them." his death or with Rosemary's. I don't know now who did kill them."

"Not even an idea?"

"It must have been either the waiter or one of the five people round the table. I don't think it was the waiter. It wasn't me and it wasn't Iris. It table. I don't think it was the waiter. It wasn't me and it wasn't Iris. It could have been Sandra Farraday or it could have been Stephen could have been Sandra Farraday or it could have been Stephen Farraday, or it could have been both of them together. But the best Farraday, or it could have been both of them together. But the best bet, in my opinion, is Ruth Lessing." bet, in my opinion, is Ruth Lessing."

"Have you anything to support that belief?"

"No. She seems to me the most likely person - but I don't see in the least how she did it! In both tragedies she was so placed at the table least how she did it! In both tragedies she was so placed at the table that it would be practically impossible for her to tamper with the that it would be practically impossible for her to tamper with the champagne gla.s.s - and the more I think over what happened the other champagne gla.s.s - and the more I think over what happened the other night, the more it seems to me impossible that George could have night, the more it seems to me impossible that George could have been poisoned at all - and yet he was!" Anthony paused. "And there's been poisoned at all - and yet he was!" Anthony paused. "And there's another thing that gets me - have you found out who wrote those another thing that gets me - have you found out who wrote those anonymous letters that started him on the track?" anonymous letters that started him on the track?"

Race shook his head.

"No. I thought I had - but I was wrong."

"Because the interesting thing is that it means that there is someone, somewhere, who knows that Rosemary was murdered, so that, unless somewhere, who knows that Rosemary was murdered, so that, unless you're careful - that person will be murdered next!" you're careful - that person will be murdered next!"

Chapter 11.

From information received over the telephone Anthony knew that Lucilla Drake was going out at five o'clock to drink a cup of tea with a Lucilla Drake was going out at five o'clock to drink a cup of tea with a dear old friend. dear old friend.

Allowing for possible contingencies (returning for a purse, determination after all to take an umbrella just in case, and last-minute determination after all to take an umbrella just in case, and last-minute chats on the doorstep) Anthony timed his own arrival at Elvaston chats on the doorstep) Anthony timed his own arrival at Elvaston Square at precisely twenty-five minutes past five. It was Iris he wanted Square at precisely twenty-five minutes past five. It was Iris he wanted to see, not her aunt. And by all accounts once shown into Lucilla's to see, not her aunt. And by all accounts once shown into Lucilla's presence, he would have had very little chance of uninterrupted presence, he would have had very little chance of uninterrupted conversation with his lady. conversation with his lady.

He was told by the parlourmaid (a girl lacking the impudent polish of Betty Archdale) that Miss Iris had just come in and was in the study. Betty Archdale) that Miss Iris had just come in and was in the study.

Anthony said with a smile, "Don't bother. I'll find my way," and went past her and along to the study door. past her and along to the study door.

Iris spun round at his entrance with a nervous start.

"Oh, it's you."

He came over to her swiftly.

"What's the matter, darling?"

"Nothing." She paused, then said quickly, "Nothing. Only I was nearly run over. Oh, my own fault, I expect I was thinking so hard and run over. Oh, my own fault, I expect I was thinking so hard and mooning across the road without looking, and the car came tearing mooning across the road without looking, and the car came tearing round the corner and just missed me." round the corner and just missed me."

He gave her a gentle little shake.

"You mustn't do that sort of thing, Iris. I'm worried about you - oh! not about your miraculous escape from under the wheels of a car, but about your miraculous escape from under the wheels of a car, but about the reason that lets you moon about in the midst of traffic. What about the reason that lets you moon about in the midst of traffic. What is it, darling? There's something special, isn't there?" is it, darling? There's something special, isn't there?"

She nodded. Her eyes, raised mournfully to his, were large and dark with fear. He recognised their message even before she said very low with fear. He recognised their message even before she said very low and quick: "I'm afraid." and quick: "I'm afraid."

Anthony recovered his calm smiling poise. He sat down beside Iris on a wide settee. a wide settee.

"Come on," he said, "let's have it."

"I don't think I want to tell you, Anthony."

"Now then, funny, don't be like the heroines of third-rate thrillers who start in the very first chapter by having something they can't possibly start in the very first chapter by having something they can't possibly tell for no real reason except to gum up the hero and make the book tell for no real reason except to gum up the hero and make the book spin itself out for another fifty thousand words." spin itself out for another fifty thousand words."

She gave a faint pale smile.

"I want to tell you, Anthony, but I don't know what you'd think - I don't know if you'd believe -" know if you'd believe -"

Anthony raised a hand and began to check off the fingers.

"One, an illegitimate baby. Two, a blackmailing lover. Three -"

She interrupted him indignantly: "Of course not. Nothing of that kind."

"You relieve my mind," said Anthony. "Come on, little idiot."

Iris's face clouded over again.

"It's nothing to laugh at. It's - it's about the other night."

"Yes?" His voice sharpened.

Iris said: "You were at the inquest this morning - you heard -"

She paused.

"Very little," said Anthony. "The police surgeon being technical about cyanides generally and the effect of pota.s.sium cyanide on George, cyanides generally and the effect of pota.s.sium cyanide on George, and the police evidence as given by that first inspector, not Kemp, the and the police evidence as given by that first inspector, not Kemp, the one with the smart moustache who arrived first at the Luxembourg and one with the smart moustache who arrived first at the Luxembourg and took charge. Identification of the body by George's chief clerk. The took charge. Identification of the body by George's chief clerk. The inquest was then adjourned for a week by a properly docile coroner." inquest was then adjourned for a week by a properly docile coroner."

"It's the Inspector I mean," said Iris. "He described finding a small paper packet under the table containing traces of pota.s.sium cyanide." paper packet under the table containing traces of pota.s.sium cyanide."

Anthony looked interested.

"Yes. Obviously whoever slipped that stuff into George's gla.s.s just dropped the paper that had contained it under the table. Simplest dropped the paper that had contained it under the table. Simplest thing to do. Couldn't risk having it found on him - or her." thing to do. Couldn't risk having it found on him - or her."

To his surprise Iris began to tremble violently.

"Oh, no Anthony. Oh, no, it wasn't like that."

"What do you mean, darling? What do you know about it?"

Iris said, "I dropped that packet under the table."

He turned astonished eyes upon her.

"Listen, Anthony. You remember how George drank off that champagne and then it happened?" champagne and then it happened?"

He nodded.

"It was awful - like a bad dream. Coming just when everything had seemed to be all right. I mean that, after the cabaret, when the lights seemed to be all right. I mean that, after the cabaret, when the lights went up - I felt so relieved. Because it was then, you know, that we went up - I felt so relieved. Because it was then, you know, that we found Rosemary dead - and somehow, I don't know why, I felt I'd see it found Rosemary dead - and somehow, I don't know why, I felt I'd see it all happen again... I felt she was there, dead, at the table..." all happen again... I felt she was there, dead, at the table..."

"Darling..."

"Oh, I know. It was just nerves. But anyway, there we were, and there was nothing awful and suddenly it seemed the whole thing was really was nothing awful and suddenly it seemed the whole thing was really done with at last and one could - I don't know how to explain it - begin done with at last and one could - I don't know how to explain it - begin again. And so I danced with George and really felt I was enjoying again. And so I danced with George and really felt I was enjoying myself at last, and we came back to the table. And then George myself at last, and we came back to the table. And then George suddenly talked about Rosemary and asked us to drink to her memory suddenly talked about Rosemary and asked us to drink to her memory and then he died and all the nightmare had come back. I just felt and then he died and all the nightmare had come back. I just felt paralysed I think. I stood there, shaking. You came round to look at paralysed I think. I stood there, shaking. You came round to look at him, and I moved back a little, and the waiters came and some asked him, and I moved back a little, and the waiters came and some asked for a doctor. And all the time I was standing there frozen. Then for a doctor. And all the time I was standing there frozen. Then suddenly a big lump came in my throat and tears began to run down suddenly a big lump came in my throat and tears began to run down my cheeks and I jerked open my bag to get my handkerchief. I just my cheeks and I jerked open my bag to get my handkerchief. I just fumbled in it, not seeing properly, and got out my handkerchief, but fumbled in it, not seeing properly, and got out my handkerchief, but there was something caught up inside the handkerchief - a folded stiff there was something caught up inside the handkerchief - a folded stiff bit of white paper, like the kind you get powders in from the chemist. bit of white paper, like the kind you get powders in from the chemist. Only, you see, Anthony, it hadn't been in my bag when I started from Only, you see, Anthony, it hadn't been in my bag when I started from home. I hadn't had anything like that! I'd put the things in myself when home. I hadn't had anything like that! I'd put the things in myself when the bag was quite empty - a powder compact, a lip-stick, my the bag was quite empty - a powder compact, a lip-stick, my handkerchief, my evening comb in its case and a s.h.i.+lling and a couple handkerchief, my evening comb in its case and a s.h.i.+lling and a couple of sixpences. Somebody had put that packet in my bag - they must of sixpences. Somebody had put that packet in my bag - they must have done. And I remembered how they'd found a packet like that in have done. And I remembered how they'd found a packet like that in Rosemary's bag after she died and how it had had cyanide in it. I was Rosemary's bag after she died and how it had had cyanide in it. I was frightened, Anthony, I was horribly frightened. My fingers went limp frightened, Anthony, I was horribly frightened. My fingers went limp and the packet fluttered down from the handkerchief under the table. I and the packet fluttered down from the handkerchief under the table. I let it go. And I didn't say anything. I was too frightened. Somebody let it go. And I didn't say anything. I was too frightened. Somebody meant it to look as though I had killed George, and I didn't." meant it to look as though I had killed George, and I didn't."

Anthony gave vent to a long and prolonged whistle.

"And n.o.body saw you?" he said.

Iris hesitated.

"I'm not sure," she said slowly. "I believe Ruth noticed. But she was looking so dazed that I don't know whether she really noticed - or if she looking so dazed that I don't know whether she really noticed - or if she was just staring at me blankly." was just staring at me blankly."

Anthony gave another whistle.

"This," he remarked, "is a pretty kettle of fish."

Iris said: "It's got worse and worse. I've been so afraid they'd find out."

"Why weren't your fingerprints on it, I wonder? The first thing they'd do would be to fingerprint it." would be to fingerprint it."

"I suppose it was because I was holding it through the handkerchief."

Anthony nodded.

"Yes, you had luck there."

"But who could have put it in my bag? I had my bag with me all the evening." evening."

"That's not so impossible as you think. When you went to dance after the cabaret, you left your bag on the table. Somebody may have the cabaret, you left your bag on the table. Somebody may have tampered with it then. And there are the women. Could you get up and tampered with it then. And there are the women. Could you get up and give me an imitation of just how a woman behaves in the ladies' give me an imitation of just how a woman behaves in the ladies'

cloakroom? It's the sort of thing I wouldn't know. Do you congregate and chat or do you drift off to different mirrors?" and chat or do you drift off to different mirrors?"

Iris considered.

"We all went to the same table - a great long gla.s.s-topped one. And we put our bags down and looked at our faces, you know." put our bags down and looked at our faces, you know."

"Actually I don't. Go on."

"Ruth powdered her nose and Sandra patted her hair and pushed a hairpin in and I took off my fox cape and gave it to the woman and then hairpin in and I took off my fox cape and gave it to the woman and then I saw I'd got some dirt on my hand - a smear of mud and I went over to I saw I'd got some dirt on my hand - a smear of mud and I went over to the wash-basins." the wash-basins."

"Leaving your bag on the gla.s.s table?"

"Yes. And I washed my hands. Ruth was still fixing her face I think and Sandra went and gave up her cloak and then she went back to the Sandra went and gave up her cloak and then she went back to the gla.s.s and Ruth came and washed her hands and I went back to the gla.s.s and Ruth came and washed her hands and I went back to the table and just fixed my hair a little." table and just fixed my hair a little."

"So either of those two could have put something in your bag without your seeing?" your seeing?"

"Yes, but I can't believe either Ruth or Sandra would do such a thing."

"You think too highly of people. Sandra is the kind of Gothic creature who would have burned her enemies at the stake in the Middle Ages - who would have burned her enemies at the stake in the Middle Ages - and Ruth would make the most devastatingly practical poisoner that and Ruth would make the most devastatingly practical poisoner that ever stepped this earth." ever stepped this earth."

"If it was Ruth why didn't she say she saw me drop it?"

"You have me there. If Ruth deliberately planted cyanide on you, she'd take jolly good care you didn't get rid of it. So it looks as though it take jolly good care you didn't get rid of it. So it looks as though it wasn't Ruth. In fact the waiter is far and away the best bet. The waiter, wasn't Ruth. In fact the waiter is far and away the best bet. The waiter, the waiter! If only we had a strange waiter, a peculiar waiter, a waiter the waiter! If only we had a strange waiter, a peculiar waiter, a waiter hired for that evening only. But instead we have-Giuseppe and Pierre hired for that evening only. But instead we have-Giuseppe and Pierre and they just don't fit..." and they just don't fit..."

Iris sighed.

"I'm glad I've told you-No one will ever know now, will they? Only you and I?" and I?"

Anthony looked at her with a rather embarra.s.sed expression.

"It's not going to be just like that, Iris. In fact you're coming with me now in a taxi to old man Kemp. We can't keep this under our hats." now in a taxi to old man Kemp. We can't keep this under our hats."

"Oh, no, Anthony. They'll think I killed George."

"They'll certainly think so if they find out later that you sat tight and said nothing about all this! Your explanation will then sound extremely said nothing about all this! Your explanation will then sound extremely thin. If you volunteer it now there's a likelihood of its being believed." thin. If you volunteer it now there's a likelihood of its being believed."