The Body in the Library

‘I suppose they were film people.’

‘Very likely. And then—what I expect you’ve heard—several weekends lately he’s brought down a young woman with him—a platinum blonde.’

Mrs Bantry exclaimed:

‘You don’t think it’s this one?’

‘Well—I wondered. Of course, I’ve never seen her close to—only just getting in and out of the car—and once in the cottage garden when she was sunbathing with just some shorts and a brassière. I never really saw her face. And all these girls with their make-up and their hair and their nails look so alike.’

‘Yes. Still, it might be. It’s an idea, Jane.’

CHAPTER 2 (#u2cce7421-31e6-5e80-8586-e223aa9ca429)

It was an idea that was being at that moment discussed by Colonel Melchett and Colonel Bantry.

The Chief Constable, after viewing the body and seeing his subordinates set to work on their routine tasks, had adjourned with the master of the house to the study in the other wing of the house.

Colonel Melchett was an irascible-looking man with a habit of tugging at his short red moustache. He did so now, shooting a perplexed sideways glance at the other man. Finally, he rapped out:

‘Look here, Bantry, got to get this off my chest. Is it a fact that you don’t know from Adam who this girl is?’

The other’s answer was explosive, but the Chief Constable interrupted him.

‘Yes, yes, old man, but look at it like this. Might be deuced awkward for you. Married man—fond of your missus and all that. But just between ourselves—if you were tied up with this girl in any way, better say so now. Quite natural to want to suppress the fact—should feel the same myself. But it won’t do. Murder case. Facts bound to come out. Dash it all, I’m not suggesting you strangled the girl—not the sort of thing you’d do—I know that. But, after all, she came here—to this house. Put it she broke in and was waiting to see you, and some bloke or other followed her down and did her in. Possible, you know. See what I mean?’

‘Damn it all, Melchett, I tell you I’ve never set eyes on that girl in my life! I’m not that sort of man.’

‘That’s all right, then. Shouldn’t blame you, you know. Man of the world. Still, if you say so—Question is, what was she doing down here? She doesn’t come from these parts—that’s quite certain.’

‘The whole thing’s a nightmare,’ fumed the angry master of the house.

‘The point is, old man, what was she doing in your library?’

‘How should I know? I didn’t ask her here.’

‘No, no. But she came here, all the same. Looks as though she wanted to see you. You haven’t had any odd letters or anything?’

‘No, I haven’t.’

Colonel Melchett inquired delicately:

‘What were you doing yourself last night?’

‘I went to the meeting of the Conservative Association. Nine o’clock, at Much Benham.’

‘And you got home when?’

‘I left Much Benham just after ten—had a bit of trouble on the way home, had to change a wheel. I got back at a quarter to twelve.’

‘You didn’t go into the library?’

‘No.’

‘Pity.’

‘I was tired. I went straight up to bed.’

‘Anyone waiting up for you?’

‘No. I always take the latchkey. Lorrimer goes to bed at eleven unless I give orders to the contrary.’

‘Who shuts up the library?’

‘Lorrimer. Usually about seven-thirty this time of year.’

‘Would he go in there again during the evening?’

‘Not with my being out. He left the tray with whisky and glasses in the hall.’

‘I see. What about your wife?’

‘I don’t know. She was in bed when I got home and fast asleep. She may have sat in the library yesterday evening or in the drawing-room. I forgot to ask her.’

‘Oh well, we shall soon know all the details. Of course, it’s possible one of the servants may be concerned, eh?’

Colonel Bantry shook his head.

‘I don’t believe it. They’re all a most respectable lot. We’ve had ’em for years.’

Melchett agreed.

‘Yes, it doesn’t seem likely that they’re mixed up in it. Looks more as though the girl came down from town—perhaps with some young fellow. Though why they wanted to break into this house—’

Bantry interrupted.

‘London. That’s more like it. We don’t have goings on down here—at least—’

‘Well, what is it?’

‘Upon my word!’ exploded Colonel Bantry. ‘Basil Blake!’

‘Who’s he?’

‘Young fellow connected with the film industry. Poisonous young brute. My wife sticks up for him because she was at school with his mother, but of all the decadent useless young jackanapes! Wants his behind kicked! He’s taken that cottage on the Lansham Road—you know—ghastly modern bit of building. He has parties there, shrieking, noisy crowds, and he has girls down for the weekend.’

‘Girls?’

‘Yes, there was one last week—one of these platinum blondes—’