I said quietly: ‘Monsieur Raoul has gone to Paris till Thursday, Berthe. If the cable came “early” this morning he would probably know about it, but he still went to Paris. So he can’t be in it, can he? Bernard was wrong.’
She said in that dull voice that was stupid with shock and succeeded in sounding stubborn: ‘Bernard said he was in it. Bernard said he fired the shot.’
It was useless – and cruel – to spend myself in protests. I said: ‘All right. The point is that if we’re to decide how to protect Philippe we must have some idea where the danger’s coming from. I mean, nobody’s going to listen to us unless we have some sort of a case which, God knows, we haven’t got yet. Let’s begin with the things we know. You say it’s not to be Bernard.’
She gulped and nodded. She was steadier now, I saw, and her breathing was less ragged. Her hands had stopped wrenching at each other. She was listening with some sort of attention.
I said: ‘I think we can count out the idea that there are any more booby-traps waiting about. They’ve got to make quite certain this time; they can’t wait for chance to act for them. And in any case, too many “accidents” of the same kind might make people begin to think. That was why Monsieur de Valmy warned me about the swing in the barn … yes, he did that this afternoon, after he’d heard that Hippolyte was coming back. He was as nice as ninepence, though I’d been quite sure that he and Madame – oh, well, that doesn’t matter. Well, Bernard’s out, and booby-traps are out. There are limits to what Monsieur de Valmy can do himself, and from the way things have gone up to now I have a feeling he’ll keep well out of it, since he’s the person who stands most obviously to gain. And Raoul isn’t here, so it can’t be Raoul.’ In spite of myself my voice lightened on the words. I said almost joyously: ‘That leaves Madame, doesn’t it.’
‘Are you sure?’ said Berthe.
‘That it’s Madame? Of course I’m not. But—’
‘That he’s gone,’ said Berthe.
I stared at her. ‘What do you mean?’
She gave a little boneless shrug. ‘It’s a big place.’
Something crept over my skin like a cold draught. ‘You mean … he may still be here somewhere … hiding?’
She didn’t speak. She nodded. Her eyes, watching me painfully, were once more alive and intelligent.
I said almost angrily: ‘But he went. People must have seen him go. Bernard said – oh, that’s not evidence, is it? But his car’s gone. I noticed that when we came through the stableyard this afternoon.’
‘Yes. He left. I saw him. But he could have come back. There’s such things,’ added Berthe surprisingly, ‘as alibis.’
I said slowly: ‘Yes, I suppose there are. But that he should be here – hiding – no, it’s too far-fetched and absurd.’
‘Well,’ said Berthe, ‘but it’s absurd to think Madame would do it, isn’t it?’
‘Oh God,’ I said explosively, ‘it’s absurd to think anyone would do it! But I can’t believe the thing hinges on Raoul. No’ – as she was about to speak – ‘not only for the reason you think, but because if he is in it, I can’t see where I come in at all. That’s fantastic if you like.’
‘How d’you mean?’
‘If he was involved in this murder thing, why get involved with me? You know he was, of course?’
‘Everybody knew.’
I said bitterly: ‘They did, didn’t they? Well, why did he? Surely it was a dangerous and unnecessary thing to do?’
‘Perhaps,’ she said disconcertingly, ‘he just can’t help it. You’re awfully pretty, aren’t you, and Albertine says that when they were in Paris she heard—’
‘Ah, yes,’ I said. ‘Albertine hears an awful lot, doesn’t she? You mean that he automatically turns the power on for every young female he meets? His father’s like that, have you noticed? He’s got a technique all his own of disarming you with his affliction and then switching on charm like an arc-light. Well, it could be, but I don’t think so. Raoul’s not like his father; he’s got no need to waste himself where it doesn’t matter. And in this case it might have been actually dangerous to get involved with me if he was … Third Murderer.’
‘If he’s in it with them, and he started to – well, to—’
‘To make love to me?’
‘Yes, miss. If he did that, and, like you said, it wasn’t safe, mightn’t that be why Monsieur and Madame were so annoyed about it?’
‘I thought they were at first, but they weren’t. I told you. Monsieur was awfully nice to me this afternoon.’
‘Oh, but they were, miss. Albertine said you were to be sent away. Everyone knew. They were all talking about it. And why should they bother to send you away, unless Monsieur Raoul was in with them, and it wasn’t safe, like you said. Otherwise you’d hardly think they’d trouble their heads about his goings-on, because – oh, I’m sorry, miss, I do beg your pardon, I’m sure.’
‘It’s all right. “Goings-on” will do. Well, they might be annoyed even so, because Philippe was in their charge and I – no that won’t do. If they’re all set to murder the child they won’t give a damn about the moral code of his governess. But no, Berthe, it won’t fit. It doesn’t make sense. I still can’t throw Monsieur Raoul in, you know. And not just because of the way I feel either. It went too far, our affair – beyond all the bounds of reason if he was involved in his father’s game. He asked me to marry him at the ball.’
‘Yes, I know.’
‘You know?’
‘Yes, miss. Everybody does.’
I don’t think I spoke for a full five seconds. ‘Do they? Second sight or just more gossip?’
‘I don’t know what you mean. Bernard told Albertine and she told the rest of us.’
‘When was this?’
She looked uncomfortable. ‘Well, she’d been saying things about you for quite a time. She’d been saying you were, well—’
‘Yes?’
‘She said you were out to get him, miss, and that Monsieur and Madame were furious and you were going to be sent away. And then yesterday she was saying it had happened, like.’
‘Yesterday? You mean after the ball?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Did she say she knew for certain?’
‘I don’t know. She was sounding sure enough about it. She said – oh, well, never mind. She’s a nasty one sometimes, that one.’
‘Yes. Let it pass. I’ve had my fill of Albertine. But let’s think,’ I said a little desperately, ‘if she and everyone else were talking about our engagement, then, even if they hadn’t been actually told, you’d think Monsieur and Madame would know too?’
‘That’s right, you would.’
‘But you said they were genuinely furious before that – when it was known that he and I were, well, interested in each other.’
‘Oh yes. I’m sure of that.’
‘But I tell you it doesn’t make sense. I told you, I saw Monsieur de Valmy yesterday – when presumably he knew as much about it as everyone else – and he was extremely nice to me. And neither of them sent for me to ask me about it or – or anything. I – I can’t work it out, Berthe. My head’s spinning and it feels as if it’s going to burst. If they knew, and didn’t mind, then Raoul can’t be in it, can he? When I saw him, Monsieur Léon must have already laid his plans because he’d already had Hippolyte’s cable …’
My voice trailed away into nothing. I swallowed hard. I repeated, unrecognisably: ‘He’d already had Hippolyte’s cable.’
In the silence that followed she stirred and the bed creaked.
I said slowly: ‘He and Madame were angry with me before; I know they were. I believe they were planning to send me away. But Hippolyte’s cable changed all that. They had to make a plan in a hurry and that plan included me. How does that fit?’
‘Well—’
‘It does, you know. But how? How? Are you sure Bernard said nothing?’
‘I’m sure,’ she said desperately. ‘Don’t you fret
, miss. I’d go bail you’ll be in no danger.’
‘What makes you think I’m worrying about that?’ I said, almost sharply. ‘But we must get this straight, don’t you see? It’s the only way we’ll be able to do anything to help Philippe. What can they be planning to do that includes me? What the sweet hell can they be planning?’
She said: ‘Maybe you’ve nothing to do with it at all. Maybe they just think it’d look funny if something happened to Philippe the day you were sent off, so they’ve decided they’ll have to keep you.’
‘Yes, but marriage is a bit—’
‘Maybe they want to make sure you’ll hold your tongue if you suspect anything,’ said Berthe.
‘Oh, dear God,’ I said wearily, ‘they surely can’t imagine that I’d suspect a child was murdered and do nothing about it?’
‘But if you were going to marry him, and everyone knew—’
‘What difference would that make? They’d never be idiot enough to think I’d help them? No, it’s nonsense. They’d never use marriage as a bait to make me hold my tongue. Why, good heavens—’
‘I wasn’t going to say that.’ There was some new quality in Berthe’s voice that stopped me short. She was still speaking softly, but there was some curious vibrancy in the tones that held me. She said: ‘Everybody knows you’re engaged to Monsieur Raoul. If Philippe died, you’d be Madame la Comtesse de Valmy one day. If the cable really came before the ball—’
‘What do you mean?’ Then I saw. I finished in a voice that wasn’t a voice at all: ‘You mean that when the cable came and they made their plan, it did include me? That they’ve given me a motive for murder? That they can’t risk another “accident” without a scapegoat ready to hand in case things go wrong and people ask questions? Is that what you mean?’
Berthe said simply: ‘Why else should he ask you to marry him?’
‘Why else indeed?’ I said.
I had checked up again on Philippe. He still slept peacefully. The house was quiet. I tiptoed back into my bedroom and reached for my dressing-gown.
Berthe said: ‘Is he all right?’
I was putting the dressing-gown on with hands that shook and were clumsy. ‘Yes. You realise, I suppose, that the likeliest time for anything to happen is tonight, now, and everybody’s out at the dance except Mrs. Seddon?’
‘Mr. Seddon didn’t go. He stayed with her.’
‘Oh? Well, I’d trust them all right, but she’s ill and I doubt if he’d be much use – even if they’d believe us, which isn’t likely.’ I found my slippers and thrust my feet hastily into them. ‘Will you stay with Philippe and mount guard over him? Lock his door and window now.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘The only possible thing. What’s the time?’
‘Going on quarter past one. I – we came away early.’
‘Did Bernard come up with you?’
‘Yes.’ She didn’t look at me. ‘I persuaded him to bring me up in the brake. It wasn’t difficult. He – he’s asleep now in my room.’ She finished in a thin little voice: ‘It was awful, driving up that zigzag with him so drunk still …’
I was hardly listening. I was reflecting that apart from the Seddons, we were alone in the house with Léon de Valmy and Bernard. Thank God the latter still had to sleep it off. I said: ‘Was Madame de Valmy at the dance?’
‘Yes, but she’ll have left by now. She never stays long.’
‘I see. Now can I get to the telephone in Seddon’s pantry without being heard or seen? Does he lock it?’
‘No, miss. But he goes to bed at midnight and he always switches it through to the Master’s room then.’
Something fluttered deep in my stomach. I ignored it. ‘Then I’ll switch it back again. How d’you do it?’
‘There’s a red tab on the left. Press it down. But – he might hear it. Miss – what are you going to do?’
‘There’s only one thing I can do. We must have help. D’you mean that if I use the telephone it’ll ting in the Master’s room or something? Because if so I can’t use it. And I can’t go out and leave Philippe. You may have to go for the police yourself if you can—’
‘The police?’
I was across at the door that gave on to the corridor, listening. I turned and looked back at her in surprise.
‘Who else? I must tell the police all this. They may not believe me, but at least I can get them up here and if there’s a fuss it’ll make it impossible for another attempt on Philippe to be made. And tonight or tomorrow Monsieur Hippolyte gets back and he can take care of Philippe when the row’s over and I’ve been sent – home.’
‘No!’ said Berthe so violently that the syllable rang, and she clapped a hand to her mouth.
‘What d’you mean?’
‘You’re not to go to the police! You’re not to tell anyone!’
‘But my dear girl—’
‘I came to tell you because you’ve been kind to me, because I liked you and Philippe. You’ve been so good to me – always so nice, and there was the dress and – and all. I thought you might have got mixed up in it somehow, with Monsieur Raoul and all that … But you mustn’t let on I told you! You mustn’t!’
The new fear had sharpened her voice, so that I said urgently: ‘Be quiet, will you! And don’t be a fool! How can you expect me to say nothing—’
‘You are not to tell them about Bernard! You can go away if you’re afraid!’
I must have looked at her blankly. ‘Go away?’
‘If it’s true what we said, and you’re likely to be blamed for a murder! You can make an excuse in the morning and leave straight away! It’s easy! You can say you don’t want to marry him after all, and that you know you can’t stay as governess after what’s happened. It’s likely enough. They can’t make you stay anyway, and they won’t suspect.’
‘But, Berthe, stop! That’s only guesswork! And even if it’s true you can’t seriously suggest that I should run away and leave Philippe to them?’
‘I’ll look after him! I’ll watch him till Monsieur Hippolyte gets back! It’s only one day! You can trust me, you know that. If you upset their plans and they’ve nobody to blame, maybe they won’t do anything.’
‘Maybe they will,’ I rejoined grimly, ‘and blame you instead, Berthe.’
‘They wouldn’t dare. Bernard wouldn’t stand for it.’
‘You’re probably right. But I’m not risking Philippe’s life on any “maybes”. And you don’t undersand, Berthe. The thing to be stopped isn’t my being involved, but Philippe’s murder! I know you came to warn me, and I’m grateful, but there’s simply no quesion of my leaving. I’m going to ring the police now.’
Her face, paper-white, had flattened, featureless; starched linen with two dark holes torn for eyes. ‘No! No! No!’ Hysteria shook her voice. ‘Bernard will know I’ve told you! And Monsieur de Valmy! I daren’t! You can’t!’
‘I must. Can’t you see that none of these things matter? Only the child.’
‘I’ll deny it. I’ll deny everything. I’ll swear he never said a word or that I spoke to you. I’ll say it’s lies. I will! I will!’
There was a little silence. I came away from the door.
‘You’d do – that?’
‘Yes. I swear I would.’
I said nothing for a bit. After a few seconds her eyes fell away from mine, but there was a look in her face that told me she meant what she said. I fought my anger down, reminding myself that she had lived all her life in Valmy’s shadow, and that now there was the best of reasons why Bernard should still be willing – and free – to marry her. Poor Berthe; she had done a good deal: more I could hardly expect …
‘Very well,’ I said, ‘I’ll leave you out of it and I won’t mention Bernard. We’ll let the past die and just deal with the future. I’ll put it to the police as simply my own suspicions. I’ll think of something. And then I’ll go straight along to Léon de Valmy and tell him that I’ve spoken to them. That should put pa
id to him as effectively.’
She was staring at me as if I were mad. ‘You’d – dare?’
I had a sudden inner vision of Philippe in Raoul’s arms. ‘Oh yes,’ I said, ‘I’d dare.’
She was shivering now, and her teeth were clenched as if she was cold. ‘But you mustn’t. He’d guess about Bernard – and me. Someone’d tell him Bernard was drunk tonight. He’d know. You can’t do it.’
‘I must and will. Don’t be a fool, Berthe. You know as well as I do that I’ve got to. …’
‘No, no, no! We can look after him! With two of us he’ll be all right. It’s only for one day. We can watch Bernard—’
‘And Madame? And Léon de Valmy? And God knows who else?’
She said blindly, hysterically: ‘You are not to tell! If you don’t swear not to go to the police I shall go to Bernard now! He’ll be sober enough to stop you!’
I took three strides to the bedside and gripped her by the shoulders. ‘You won’t do that, Berthe! You know you won’t! You can’t!’
Under my hands her shoulders were rigid. Her face, still pinched and white, was near my own. My touch seemed to have shaken the hysteria out of her, for she spoke quietly, and with a conviction that no scream could have carried: ‘If you tell the police, and they come to see the Master, he’ll guess how you found out. And there’ll be a fuss, and he’ll just deny everything, and laugh at it. They’ll say that you – yes! they’ll say you tried to marry Monsieur Raoul and were slighted and you’re doing it out of spite, and then the police will laugh too and shrug and have a drink with the Master and go away …’
‘Very likely. But it’ll save Philippe and a bit more slander won’t hurt me.’
‘But what do you suppose will happen to me when it’s all over?’ asked Berthe. ‘And Bernard? And my mother and my family? My father and my brothers have worked at Valmy all their lives. They’re poor. They’ve got nothing. Where can they go when they’re dismissed? What can we do?’ She shook her head. ‘You must please – please – do as I say. Between us we can keep him safe all right. It’s best, miss, honestly it’s best.’