Part 13 (2/2)
”Very.”
”Does he like you?”
”I think so. Why?”
”I only wondered. He seems such a withdrawn person. Still, it was nice of him to come down.
What do you suppose he wants to see the superintendent for?”
”I haven't a notion. However, I'm all for it. He definitely adds tone to the proceedings.
Obviously no member of his entourage would be vulgar enough to commit a murder.”
”If the superintendent has a grain of sense, it won't be necessary for him to see your stepfather to realise that you couldn't possibly have done it,” said Miss Allison stoutly.
Whatever the superintendent felt about it, Sergeant Hemingway quite agreed with her. ”You've got to take psychology into account, Chief,” he said. ”To my way of thinking, a nice young fellow like James Kane doesn't waltz about murdering his relations.”
”I agree; but there's also the question of motive to be taken into account. He had more than anyone else.”
”Too much,” said the sergeant briskly. ”He's what I might call dripping with motive. I've a strong idea, myself, that what we want to look for is something a bit more recherche. This isn't one of your clumsy, hit-you-in-the-eye murders. It's got cla.s.s. Who's this Sir Adrian What's-his-name that wants to see you?”
”Your young friend's father, I imagine.”
”What, Terrible Timothy? You don't say! Well, if he's half the turn his son is, you ought to have a lively morning of it, Super.”
Superintendent Hannasyde, however, was unable to detect much resemblance between Timothy and his father.
He went up to Cliff House shortly after eleven o'clock and encountered Timothy in the porch.
He bade him a pleasant good morning but received a gloomy, though civil response. ”You don't look very cheerful,” he remarked. ”I hope you haven't mislaid a clue?”
Timothy acknowledged this poor jest with a perfunctory smile and replied with cold dignity that no one could be expected to look cheerful with people simply being rottenly selfish the whole time.
”No, it certainly must be very difficult for you,” agreed Hannasyde.
”It isn't that I care two hoots, because actually I don't particularly want to go out in any rotten motorboat,” said Timothy bitterly. ”Only, considering I asked first, I think it's pretty mean of Jim to take Patricia, that's all.”
Superintendent Hannasyde, who had a mind trained to grapple with elusive problems, was able fairly accurately to guess the cause of Mr. Harte's discontent. He replied suitably; but said that in his opinion jaunts upon the sea for one engaged in solving a mystery would be a waste of time. ”Is your stepbrother out now, then?” he inquired.
”Yes, and I should jolly well laugh if Patricia was seasick!” said Mr. Harte. ”I shouldn't be a bit surprised if she was, either.”
Pritchard came to the door in answer to the superintendent's ring at this moment, so Hannasyde parted from Mr. Harte, docketing in his brain the fact that Mr. James Kane, possible murderer, was apparently feeling carefree enough to disport himself in a motorboat with his fiancee.
Sir Adrian Harte received the superintendent in the library. He screwed his monocle into his eye, favoured Hannasyde with one of his calm, aloof glances, and said, ”Ah, good morning, Superintendent! Sit down, won't you?”
Hannasyde took a chair. ”Good morning, sir. You are Mr. James Kane's stepfather, I understand? You wanted to see me?”
”I did, yes.” Sir Adrian sat down, hitching his beautifully pressed trousers carefully at the knee.
”There is an aspect to this extremely unpleasant affair which I should like to discuss with you. I did not know if you are aware of it, but a gentleman of the name of Roberts has seen fit to warn my stepson that he may shortly figure in this case as the third victim.”
”No, I didn't know that, sir,” Hannasyde replied, not taking his eyes from Sir Adrian's face.
”So I had supposed. What Mr. Roberts' reason is for uttering this somewhat dramatic warning I am unable to tell you. But it seems to me highly undesirable that any unnecessary mystery should attach to the case.”
”Highly undesirable,” corroborated Hannasyde with emphasis. ”Did Mr. Roberts tell Mr. Kane whom he suspected of wanting to murder him?”
”I gather that he threw out a hint-ah, a sufficiently broad hint, Superintendent!-that the Mansells would not allow my stepson to stand in the way of their schemes.”
Hannasyde's brows drew together. ”I take it you refer to the Australian scheme, sir? Did Mr.
Roberts utter this warning by way of threat?”
”Far from it. According to my stepson, he seemed genuinely disturbed to think that he might have been the unwitting cause of the two other deaths.”
Hannasyde said slowly: ”Yes, he said as much to me. I think it a trifle farfetched, sir.”
”I agree with you. But a point occurred to me which might perhaps be investigated with advantage. I am not familiar with the exact terms of Matthew Kane's will, but no doubt you have gone into it.” He paused, took his monocle out of his eye, polished it, and replaced it. ”In the event of my stepson's death, Superintendent, who inherits his share of the business?”
Hannasyde nodded, as though he had expected this question. ”Mrs. Leighton would inherit it, sir.”
”You are sure of that? It would not, by any chance, failing a male heir, go to the other two partners?”
”No, certainly not.”
Sir Adrian frowned a little. ”Ah! Yet if the Mansells wished to acquire complete control over the business, I imagine a lady would not be as hard for them to handle as my stepson might be. She might even agree to being bought out. My stepson tells me that he informed Paul Mansell that he had no desire to be bought out.”
”Oh! Mansell actually suggested that, did he? That's interesting. Does Mr. Kane attach much weight to Mr. Roberts' warning?”
”Oh, not undue weight, I think. He has a certain value for my opinion,” said Sir Adrian placidly.
”What is your opinion, sir, if I may ask?”
”I think it most improbable that anyone should have the courage to attempt a murder under your nose, Superintendent.”
”It would take some nerve,” admitted Hannasyde. ”Still, I'm glad you have told me all this, sir.”
”It is always well to be on the safe side,” said Sir Adrian, getting up.
Hannasyde looked at him under his brows. ”Do you want me to give your stepson police protection, sir?”
”That I leave entirely to you, Superintendent. I hardly think it should be necessary.”
Hannasyde rose. ”Well, I can promise you that the matter will have my very careful consideration, sir. Is that all you wished to say to me?”
”Yes, I think so, thank you,” replied Sir Adrian, walking over to the door.
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