Part 31 (1/2)
”Yes, that's the source of the hints I had given me. But Mrs Everett does not accuse your aunt----”
”She'd better not!”
”Oh, she doesn't. But the matter must be looked into, for there is a motive, and your aunt----Really, I can't discuss this thing with you, Mr Bates!”
”But you must. I'm in charge,--I'm going to find out who killed my uncle. I admit I hadn't a great desire to know his murderer, when I supposed it was some girls or women with whom he was mixed up in a frivolous way. But if my aunt's name is so much as breathed, of course, I must discover the real murderer to save her reputation. She no more did it than I did,--but I daresay the people who suspect her would also implicate me!”
”Don't speak like that. I've only a hint to go upon, and though I must follow it up, it's an easy matter, no doubt, for all your aunt's household to state an alibi and that settles it.”
”Real alibis are not always easy to prove. It's your faked alibi that's glibly detailed and sworn to. There's no one in my aunt's household but herself, myself, and Miss Gurney, her companion. We three were in our beds and asleep at the time of the murder, but we can't prove it by eye witnesses! Naturally, there's no one to swear to it, except ourselves.
Now, where does that lead you?”
”To further investigation. You know your aunt's paper-cutter was found----”
”That proves nothing. You must connect that knife undeniably with the crime before you can use it against her.”
”I grant that. But first, let's look into the motive. Your aunt did want Sir Herbert out of the way. She did say she wished he was dead. She did say she would kill him herself if she were sure she'd never be found out.”
”I know she said those things, for I heard her,--not once, but repeatedly. But my aunt is a quick-tempered and thoughtless-speaking woman. She has time and again wished various people dead. She has often expressed her willingness to kill certain people. But it meant no more,--as she said it,--than for another to wish bad luck to them, or say they hate them. She is most unguarded in her expressions and exaggerates always. These things must be understood by you before you accuse her. She has frequently wished herself dead, but she didn't mean it any more than she meant it regarding Sir Herbert.”
”All that will be considered and remembered, but we must question her.”
”You'd better question me. I can tell you anything she can, and in a more satisfactory manner.”
”Tell us all you like,--all you will, but we must also question Miss Prall and Miss Gurney.”
”All right, but there are other directions in which to look. Don't be too sure that women committed the deed.”
”No use your trying to throw over that dying statement. No use looking for a man in the case, with that note before our eyes. You know yourself if a man or men had killed Sir Herbert nothing could have influenced him to write a denunciation of women. Why would he? What possible circ.u.mstance could explain it? Have you any theory that would fit the facts?”
”No, unless a man killed him at the instigation of or in behalf of some women and Sir Herbert wanted the deed traced to its true source.”
”Even that doesn't seem to make plausible a positive a.s.sertion that 'women did this.' No, there's no getting away from that avowal. And, you must see that the use of the plural,--women,--signifies collusion. Two or more must be implicated. Not necessarily two or more present at the moment of the crime, but two or more to be found and punished.”
”Yes, I see all that,--and I want to find the criminals as much as you do. Especially now, since Miss Prall's name has been dragged in. But I do want you to understand how little her hints at 'killing' anybody really mean. You know what an extravagant talker she is.”
”I do know that, and I a.s.sure you I'll make all allowances. But I can't leave any stone unturned.”
The man Peters had been in and out of the room and, as he reappeared, Richard said, ”You know Miss Prall, Peters. You know how carelessly she speaks of serious things?”
”Yes, sir, I do. But you needn't tell me them little chickens ever had any hand in the murderin'! Why, they just couldn't have had.”
”Anything is possible, Peters,” said Bates, sternly. ”And I don't want you to make those definite statements. They mean nothing, save that such is your opinion.”
”But my opinions is pretty sound ones, Mr Bates, an' founded on a lot of personal knowledge of Sir Herbert,--rest his soul. And I tell you, gentlemen, that that deed could never ha' been done by young girls,--neither the little ladies that Sir Herbert was fond of kitin'
round with nor yet the girls employed in this house. No, sir, that fearful crime was planned and carried out by older heads than theirs.
Men or women might 'a' done it,--but never little half-baked flappers like them you're suspectin'.”
”There's sense in that,” mused Gibbs, and Bates flared out: ”I suppose that leads you more certainly to suspicion of my aunt. But you're wrong, Gibbs, all wrong! Now, look here, suppose, just for a moment, there had been no written message,--which way would you look then?”