Part 14 (2/2)
”Devoted! She's practically one of the family. She took my eldest boy from the month, and my younger one too!”
”I see,” said Hannasyde. ”And you stayed with her until you went to East Madingley?”
”Of course I did!”
”All the following day, in fact?”
Lady Harte looked exasperated. ”Yes! If you mean, was I in her house all day, certainly not!
You don't seem to realise that I had a lot to do when I got back. I was in London, shopping, all the morning, dashed back to Putney after lunch to repack my suitcase, dashed up to King's Cross, and just caught the 7.15 train north.”
”Were you aware of Mr. Silas Kane's death, Lady Harte?”
”Yes, Nanny told me all about that. I can't say I was surprised. He'd had a weak heart for years.”
”You did not make any attempt to get into touch either with your son or with anyone here?”
She gave her head a decided shake. ”No time. There was nothing I could do, and it was extremely important I should present myself in my const.i.tuency without any further loss of time. I always keep my personal affairs and my public life strictly apart. It's by far the best plan.”
”When did you learn of Mr. Clement Kane's murder, Lady Harte?”
”Actually, I never heard anything about it till I got back to town last night. Usually I make a point of studying The Times from cover to cover, but my mind was occupied with more pressing business. Nanny told me about it as soon as I arrived at her place, of course, so I collected my baggage from Pont Street first thing this morning and managed to catch the ten-o'clock train down to Portlaw.” She threw the stub of her cigarette out of the window and added kindly: ”If there's anything more you want to know, don't hesitate to ask me!”
”Thank you, Lady Harte. You will understand, I expect, that it is of importance to this case that I should know exactly where you went on August tenth.”
”Was that the day Clement Kane was murdered?” inquired Norma. ”Oh well, naturally you must know what my movements were! Now let me see!” She paused in her striding about the room and took another cigarette out of the box on the table. Once more her husband held a light for her, once more she inhaled the first breath with that characteristic little toss of the head. ”Very difficult,” she p.r.o.nounced at last. ”You know what it's like when one gets back from the wilds-or perhaps you don't. I spent the day shopping. New toothbrush, and hair lotion, and that sort of thing. I expect I could make out a list if I gave my mind to it, but I'm not sure I can remember the shops I went to.
Some chemist or other in the Brompton Road, but G.o.d knows which one. I went to Harrod's, too, and various other places.”
”The shops are really quite immaterial, Lady Harte. If you could tell me where you lunched it would be helpful.”
”Oh, at some teashop or other! I rather think it was at a Lyons' Corner House-or, no, wait!-it might have been Stewart's. Somewhere in Piccadilly.”
”Whichever restaurant it was, it was a crowded one?”
”They all are,” said Norma. ”If it weren't so out of the way, I should have gone to my club; but it's in Cavendish Square. Waste of time!”
”And in the afternoon?” inquired Hannasyde.
”I hadn't done all the shopping I had to, so I went back to Putney-it was Sat.u.r.day, you know.
Early closing day in London.” She gave a sudden laugh. ”Good Lord, of course you can't prove any of this, no more can I! You're thinking that old Nanny would lie like a shot. So she would, bless her!
Well, I've done most things-experience is the most important thing in life-but I've never yet been suspected of murder. Now, don't misunderstand me! I don't mind a bit; in fact, it'll provide me with a grand piece of copy for the book I'm writing.”
Hannasyde could not help smiling, but he said: ”There is another question I should like you to answer, Lady Harte. Were you conversant with the terms of Matthew Kane's will?”
”Do you mean, did I know that my boy stood next to his cousin Clement in succession? My dear good man, of course I did!”
”Did you ever mention the matter to your son?”
”No, certainly not.”
”You seem very sure of that?”
”Well, I am sure. I never thought there was the least likelihood of him coming into the property.
I'm not at all certain I wanted him to. I don't believe in young men rolling in wealth. I believe in them having to make their own way and fight for what they want. I've always done it. I only wish my boys had half my push. When I make up my mind to do a thing, I can't rest till it's done.”
A singularly pugnacious expression came into her face as she delivered herself of this announcement, but just then Jim Kane walked quickly into the room and the expression vanished at once. ”Jim, my dearest!” Norma cried and held out her arms to him.
Mr. James Kane caught her in a bear's hug. He was laughing as he kissed her. ”Mother, where did you spring from? Why weren't we warned? Or were we, and did Adrian forget all about it?”
”Well, I certainly was under the impression that I sent one of you a cable,” said Norma. ”Not that it matters much. Darling, what a dreadful coat! It's fraying at the cuffs. You really can't go about like that!”
”Why not?” he retorted. ”Look at the wicked example you set me!”
”Oh, it doesn't matter about me!” she said. ”Besides, I'm perfectly respectable. Now, you must sit down and not interrupt, Jim. I'm being interviewed by the police. Darling!” The last word was murmured in an idolatrous voice quite at variance with Lady Harte's usually incisive accents.
Hannasyde watched one thin brown hand go swiftly up to pat Jim's cheek, saw the sharp eyes misty, and turned to find Sir Adrian meditatively polis.h.i.+ng his monocle.
Sir Adrian met his look with a faint smile. ”Yes, Superintendent?” he said gently.
”Nothing, sir. I have asked Lady Harte all I wish to just now. I'm sure she would like to be alone with her family.”
Norma said: ”Very decent of you, but my motto is business first. Of course, if you've really done with me--”
”I have,” Hannasyde said.
Sir Adrian escorted him out of the room, closing the door on his wife and stepson. In the hall he said: ”Have you a piece of paper and a pencil, Superintendent? If you have, I will give you that address you want.”
Hannasyde produced both articles. ”Thank you. I was going to ask you for that. As a matter of form, I must check up on Lady Harte's story.”
Sir Adrian wrote a name and an address down in a leisurely fas.h.i.+on. ”Incredible, isn't it?” he said.
”I wouldn't say that.”
”That shows insight, Superintendent. My wife is one of the most truthful people I have the pleasure of knowing. Here is Nanny Bryant's address for you.”
”Thank you.” Hannasyde folded the paper, slipped it in his notebook, and picked up his hat.
He was in time to catch the omnibus that pa.s.sed the lodge gates and was soon in Portlaw, in conference with Sergeant Hemingway and Inspector Carlton.
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