Sparkling Cyanide Part 26

Iris interrupted him. She cried out: "But why should anyone want to kill me? Why? Why?" me? Why? Why?"

"All that lovely money, angel. Money, money, money! Rosemary's money went to you on her death. Now suppose you were to die - money went to you on her death. Now suppose you were to die - unmarried. What would happen to that money? The answer was it unmarried. What would happen to that money? The answer was it would go to your next of kin - to your aunt, Lucilla Drake. Now from all would go to your next of kin - to your aunt, Lucilla Drake. Now from all accounts of the dear lady, I could hardly see Lucilla Drake as First accounts of the dear lady, I could hardly see Lucilla Drake as First Murderess. But is there anyone else who would benefit? Yes, indeed. Murderess. But is there anyone else who would benefit? Yes, indeed. Victor Drake. If Lucilla has money, it will be exactly the same as Victor Victor Drake. If Lucilla has money, it will be exactly the same as Victor having it - Victor will see to that! He has always been able to do what having it - Victor will see to that! He has always been able to do what he likes with his mother. And there is nothing difficult about seeing he likes with his mother. And there is nothing difficult about seeing Victor as First Murderer. All along, from the very start of the case, Victor as First Murderer. All along, from the very start of the case, there had been reference to Victor, mentions of Victor. He has been in there had been reference to Victor, mentions of Victor. He has been in the offing, a shadowy, unsubstantial, evil figure." the offing, a shadowy, unsubstantial, evil figure."

"But Victor's in the Argentine! He's been in South America for over a year." year."

"Has he? We're coming now to what has been said to be the fundamental plot of every story. 'Girl meets Boy!' When Victor met fundamental plot of every story. 'Girl meets Boy!' When Victor met Ruth Lessing, this particular story started. He got hold of her. I think Ruth Lessing, this particular story started. He got hold of her. I think she must have fallen for him pretty badly. Those quiet, level-headed, she must have fallen for him pretty badly. Those quiet, level-headed, law-abiding women are the kind that often fall for a real bad lot. law-abiding women are the kind that often fall for a real bad lot.

"Think a minute and you'll realise that all the evidence for Victor's being in South America depends on Ruth's word. None of it was being in South America depends on Ruth's word. None of it was verified because it was never a main issue! Ruth said that she had verified because it was never a main issue! Ruth said that she had seen Victor off on the S.S. Cristobal before Rosemary's death! It was seen Victor off on the S.S. Cristobal before Rosemary's death! It was Ruth who suggested putting a call through to Buenos Aires on the day Ruth who suggested putting a call through to Buenos Aires on the day of George's death - and later sacked the telephone girl who might have of George's death - and later sacked the telephone girl who might have inadvertantly let out that she did no such thing. inadvertantly let out that she did no such thing.

"Of course it's been easy to check up now! Victor Drake arrived in Buenos Aires by a boat leaving England the day after Rosemary's Buenos Aires by a boat leaving England the day after Rosemary's death a year ago. Ogilvie, in Buenos Aires, had no telephone death a year ago. Ogilvie, in Buenos Aires, had no telephone conversation with Ruth on the subject of Victor Drake on the day of conversation with Ruth on the subject of Victor Drake on the day of George's death. And Victor Drake left Buenos Aires for New York George's death. And Victor Drake left Buenos Aires for New York some weeks ago. Easy enough for him to arrange for a cable to be sent some weeks ago. Easy enough for him to arrange for a cable to be sent off in his name on a certain day - one of those well-known cables off in his name on a certain day - one of those well-known cables asking for money that seemed proof positive that he was many asking for money that seemed proof positive that he was many thousands of miles away. Instead of which -" thousands of miles away. Instead of which -"

"Yes, Anthony?"

"Instead of which," said Anthony, leading up to his climax with intense pleasure, "he was sitting at the next table to ours at the Luxembourg pleasure, "he was sitting at the next table to ours at the Luxembourg with a not so dumb blonde!" with a not so dumb blonde!"

"Not that awful looking man?"

"A yellow blotchy complexion and bloodshot eyes are easy things to a.s.sume, and they make a lot of difference to a man. Actually, of our a.s.sume, and they make a lot of difference to a man. Actually, of our party, I was the only person (apart from Ruth Lessing) who had ever party, I was the only person (apart from Ruth Lessing) who had ever seen Victor Drake - and I had never known him under that name! In any seen Victor Drake - and I had never known him under that name! In any case I was sitting with my back to him. I did think I recognised, in the case I was sitting with my back to him. I did think I recognised, in the c.o.c.ktail lounge outside, as we came in, a man I had known in my c.o.c.ktail lounge outside, as we came in, a man I had known in my prison days - Monkey Coleman. But as I was now leading a highly prison days - Monkey Coleman. But as I was now leading a highly respectable life I was not too anxious that he should recognise me. I respectable life I was not too anxious that he should recognise me. I never for one moment suspected that Monkey Coleman had had never for one moment suspected that Monkey Coleman had had anything to do with the crime - much less that he and Victor Drake anything to do with the crime - much less that he and Victor Drake were one and the same." were one and the same."

"But I don't see now how he did it?"

Colonel Race took up the tale.

"In the easiest way in the world. During the cabaret he went out to telephone, pa.s.sing our table. Drake had been an actor and he had telephone, pa.s.sing our table. Drake had been an actor and he had been something more important - a waiter. To a.s.sume the make-up been something more important - a waiter. To a.s.sume the make-up and play the part of Pedro Morales was child's play to an actor, but to and play the part of Pedro Morales was child's play to an actor, but to move deftly round a table, with the step and gait of a waiter, filling up move deftly round a table, with the step and gait of a waiter, filling up the champagne gla.s.ses, needed the definite knowledge and technique the champagne gla.s.ses, needed the definite knowledge and technique of a man who had actually been a waiter. A clumsy action or movement of a man who had actually been a waiter. A clumsy action or movement would have drawn your attention to him, but as a bona fide waiter none would have drawn your attention to him, but as a bona fide waiter none of you noticed or saw him. You were looking at the cabaret, not of you noticed or saw him. You were looking at the cabaret, not noticing that portion of the restaurant's furnis.h.i.+ngs - the waiter!" noticing that portion of the restaurant's furnis.h.i.+ngs - the waiter!"

Iris said in a hesitating voice: "And Ruth?"

Anthony said: "It was Ruth, of course, who put the cyanide paper in your bag - probably in the cloak-room at the beginning of the evening. your bag - probably in the cloak-room at the beginning of the evening. The same technique she had adopted a year ago - with Rosemary." The same technique she had adopted a year ago - with Rosemary."

"I always thought it odd," said Iris, "that George hadn't told Ruth about those letters. He consulted her about everything." those letters. He consulted her about everything."

Anthony gave a short laugh.

"Of course he told her - first thing. She knew he would. That's why she wrote them. Then she arranged all of his plan for him - having first got wrote them. Then she arranged all of his plan for him - having first got him well worked up. And so she had the stage set - all nicely arranged him well worked up. And so she had the stage set - all nicely arranged for suicide No. 2 - and if George chose to believe that you had killed for suicide No. 2 - and if George chose to believe that you had killed Rosemary and were committing suicide out of remorse or panic - well, Rosemary and were committing suicide out of remorse or panic - well, that wouldn't make any difference to Ruth!" that wouldn't make any difference to Ruth!"

"And to think I liked her - liked her very much! And actually wanted her to marry George." to marry George."

"She'd probably have made him a very good wife, if she hadn't come across Victor," said Anthony. "Moral: every murderess was a nice girl across Victor," said Anthony. "Moral: every murderess was a nice girl once." once."

Iris s.h.i.+vered. "All that for money!"

"You innocent, money is what these things are done for! Victor certainly did it for money. Ruth partly for money, partly for Victor, and certainly did it for money. Ruth partly for money, partly for Victor, and partly, I think, because she hated Rosemary. Yes, she'd travelled a partly, I think, because she hated Rosemary. Yes, she'd travelled a long way by the time she deliberately tried to run you down in a car, long way by the time she deliberately tried to run you down in a car, and still further when she left Lucilla in the drawing-room, banged the and still further when she left Lucilla in the drawing-room, banged the front door and then ran up to your bedroom. What did she seem like? front door and then ran up to your bedroom. What did she seem like?

Excited at all?"

Iris considered.

"I don't think so. She just tapped on the door, came in and said everything was fixed up and she hoped I was feeling all right. I said everything was fixed up and she hoped I was feeling all right. I said yes, I was just a bit tired. And then she picked up my big rubber- yes, I was just a bit tired. And then she picked up my big rubber- covered torch and said what a nice torch that was and after that I don't covered torch and said what a nice torch that was and after that I don't seem to remember anything." seem to remember anything."

"No, dear," said Anthony. "Because she hit you a nice little crack, not too hard, on the back of the neck with your nice torch. Then she too hard, on the back of the neck with your nice torch. Then she arranged you artistically by the gas fire, shut the windows tight, turned arranged you artistically by the gas fire, shut the windows tight, turned on the gas, went out, locking the door and pa.s.sing the key underneath on the gas, went out, locking the door and pa.s.sing the key underneath it, pushed the woolly mat close up against the crack so as to shut out it, pushed the woolly mat close up against the crack so as to shut out any draught and tripped gently down the stairs. Kemp and I just got any draught and tripped gently down the stairs. Kemp and I just got into the bathroom in time. I raced on up to you and Kemp followed Miss into the bathroom in time. I raced on up to you and Kemp followed Miss Ruth Lessing unbeknownst to where she had left that car parked - you Ruth Lessing unbeknownst to where she had left that car parked - you know, I felt at the time there was something fishy and uncharacteristic know, I felt at the time there was something fishy and uncharacteristic about the way Ruth tried to force it on our minds that she had come by about the way Ruth tried to force it on our minds that she had come by bus and tube!" bus and tube!"

Iris gave a shudder.

"It's horrible - to think anyone was as determined to kill me as all that. Did she hate me too by then?" Did she hate me too by then?"

"Oh, I shouldn't think so. But Miss Ruth Lessing is a very efficient young woman. She'd already been an accessory in two murders and young woman. She'd already been an accessory in two murders and she didn't fancy having risked her neck for nothing. I've no doubt she didn't fancy having risked her neck for nothing. I've no doubt Lucilla Drake bleated out your decision to marry me at a moment's Lucilla Drake bleated out your decision to marry me at a moment's notice, and in that case there was no time to lose. Once married, I notice, and in that case there was no time to lose. Once married, I should be your next of kin and not Lucilla." should be your next of kin and not Lucilla."

"Poor Lucilla. I'm so terribly sorry for her."

"I think we all are. She's a harmless, kindly soul."

"Is he really arrested?"

Anthony looked at Race, who nodded and said: "This morning, when he landed in New York."

"Was he going to marry Ruth - afterwards?"

"That was Ruth's idea. I think she would have brought it off too."

"Anthony - I don't think I like my money very much."

"All right, sweet - we'll do something n.o.ble with it if you like. I've got enough money to live on - and to keep a wife in reasonable comfort. enough money to live on - and to keep a wife in reasonable comfort. We'll give it all away if you like - endow homes for children, or provide We'll give it all away if you like - endow homes for children, or provide free tobacco for old men, or - how about a campaign for serving better free tobacco for old men, or - how about a campaign for serving better coffee all over England?" coffee all over England?"

"I shall keep a little," said Iris. "So that if I ever wanted to, I could be grand and walk out and leave you." grand and walk out and leave you."

"I don't think, Iris, that is the right spirit into which to enter upon married life. And, by the way, you didn't once say 'Tony, how married life. And, by the way, you didn't once say 'Tony, how wonderful' or 'Anthony, how clever of you'!" wonderful' or 'Anthony, how clever of you'!"

Colonel Race smiled and got up.

"Going over to the Farradays for tea," he exclaimed. There was a faint twinkle in his eye as he said to Anthony: "Don't suppose you're twinkle in his eye as he said to Anthony: "Don't suppose you're coming?" coming?"

Anthony shook his head and Race went out of the room. He paused in the doorway to say, over his shoulder: "Good show." the doorway to say, over his shoulder: "Good show."

"That," said Anthony as the door closed behind him, "denotes supreme British approval." British approval."

Iris asked in a calm voice: "He thought I'd done it, didn't he?"

"You mustn't hold that against him," said Anthony. "You see, he's known so many beautiful spies, all stealing secret formulas and known so many beautiful spies, all stealing secret formulas and wheedling secrets out of major-generals, that it's soured his nature wheedling secrets out of major-generals, that it's soured his nature and warped his judgment. He thinks it's just got to be the beautiful girl and warped his judgment. He thinks it's just got to be the beautiful girl in the case!" in the case!"

"Why did you know I hadn't, Tony?"

"Just love, I suppose," said Anthony lightly.

Then his face changed, grew suddenly serious. He touched a little vase by Iris's side in which was a single sprig of grey-green with a vase by Iris's side in which was a single sprig of grey-green with a mauve flower. mauve flower.

"What's that doing in flower at this time of year?"

"It does sometimes - just an odd sprig - if it's a mild autumn."

Anthony took it out of the gla.s.s and held it for a moment against his cheek. He half-closed his eyes and saw rich chestnut hair, laughing cheek. He half-closed his eyes and saw rich chestnut hair, laughing blue eyes and a red pa.s.sionate mouth... blue eyes and a red pa.s.sionate mouth...

He said in a quiet conversational tone: "She's not around now any longer, is she?" longer, is she?"

"Who do you mean?"

"You know who I mean. Rosemary... I think she knew, Iris, that you were in danger." were in danger."

He touched the sprig of fragrant green with his lips and threw it lightly out of the window. out of the window.

"Good-bye, Rosemary, thank you..."

Iris said softly: "That's for remembrance..."

And more softly still: "Pray, love, remember..."

The Agatha Christie Collection

Christie Crime Cla.s.sics

The Man in the Brown Suit

The Secret of Chimneys

The Seven Dials Mystery

The Mysterious Mr Quin

The Sittaford Mystery

The Hound of Death

The Listerdale Mystery

Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Parker Pyne Investigates

Murder Is Easy

And Then There Were None

Towards Zero

Death Comes as the End

Sparkling Cyanide

Crooked House

They Came to Baghdad

Destination Unknown

Spider's Web *