‘You don’t know of any private quarrel Mr Kane may have had?’
‘N-no,’ Rosemary answered. ‘Not exactly a quarrel. Of course, I know his great-aunt resented his inheriting all Silas Kane’s property, and loathed us being here, but they didn’t quarrel. I simply hate having to tell you this, but I do feel it’s my duty not to keep anything back. And actually it’s no secret that his great-aunt hated Clement. Everyone knows that James Kane is the one she’d like to have here.’
Miss Allison fixed her gaze upon the prospect outside, and thought of all the painful ways there might be of killing Mrs Clement Kane. Rosemary’s voice flowed on, but at last the Inspector went away, and Miss Allison was able to favour Rosemary with a pithy résumé of her own character as seen through the eyes of Mr James Kane’s affianced wife.
Her remarks, however, glanced off the armour of Rosemary’s superb egotism. Rosemary was grieved to think that anyone could so misjudge the purity of her motives. She explained earnestly that she had gone through the familiar process known to her as Asking Herself What she Ought to Do. Miss Allison, who knew that Rosemary’s mysterious Self, so often appealed to, so invariably in agreement with Rosemary, was divinely guided, at this point abandoned the argument, and left the room.
The Inspector, meanwhile, encountering James Kane in the hall, had requested him to accompany him to the study, whence Clement’s body had by this time been removed, for the purpose of answering a few questions on his own movements during the course of the afternoon.
‘You state that you were seated on the terrace in the company of the elder Mrs Kane until about half-past three, when the shot was fired?’
‘Yes,’ agreed Jim.
‘When you left Mrs Kane, where did you go, sir?’
‘Up to her rooms on the first floor. She wanted her garden-rug, and I went to ask her personal maid for it.’
‘I understand the maid was not in Mrs Kane’s rooms at the time?’
‘No.’
‘So what did you do, sir?’
‘I looked round for the rug, but couldn’t see it. I then came downstairs again, and went into the garden-hall, thinking it might be kept there.’
‘The garden-hall? That is the room on the same side of the house as this?’
‘Correct.’
‘With a way into the garden, I think?’
‘Of course. I’ll show you.’
‘You were, I think you said, in this garden-room when you heard the shot fired?’
‘I was, yes.’
‘Did you form any idea of the direction from which the sound came?’
‘I thought it came from just outside.’
‘What did you do, sir?’
‘I went out at once through the door on to the path that runs down the side of the house, and looked round.’
‘And you saw no one, Mr Kane?’
‘Not a sign of anyone.’
The Inspector moved to the window and looked out. Then he drew his head in again. ‘You stated a little while ago that you went out immediately you heard the shot. If that is so, it seems very strange that you should not have caught a glimpse of anyone on this side of the house. There does not seem to be any room for doubt that your cousin was shot from the window.’
Jim frowned a little. ‘Yes, it does,’ he admitted. ‘Damned odd. I can only suppose that whoever it was must have managed to get to cover in the shrubbery before I came out. I shouldn’t have thought he had time. He must have been darned nippy.’
The Inspector’s eyes measured the distance from the path to the shrubbery. Then he looked at Jim again, and said: ‘When you failed to see anyone, did you make any sort of search in the shrubbery, sir?’
‘No. I waited for a moment or two, and then came into the house again. Then I saw this door standing open, and heard the butler and Miss Allison talking.’
‘You waited for a moment or two? Why did you do that, sir?’
Jim smiled. ‘Well, to tell you the truth, I thought it might be my young half-brother up to mischief. I shouted at him, but he answered me from quite some way off, and I realised it couldn’t have had anything to do with him.’
The Inspector made a lengthy note in his book, and after an appreciable pause said: ‘Mr Clement Kane had recently inherited a considerable property. I understand you are the present heir, are you not, sir?’
‘I?’ said Jim. ‘No, you’ve been misinformed there. I belong to the youngest branch of the family. After my cousin Clement, it would go to the Australian branch.’
‘Indeed, sir, is that so?’ The Inspector seemed interested. ‘Would you mind giving me the name of the present heir?’
‘Sorry; I’m afraid I can’t. My great-aunt would probably know, though. I think it’s a female – but I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps you’d like to see Mrs Kane yourself?’
‘If you please, sir,’ said the Inspector, standing aside for Jim to go before him out of the room.
In the hall Jim stopped, for Pritchard was standing by the open front door, speaking in a low voice to Joseph Mansell.
Joseph caught sight of Jim, and came forward at once.
‘Jim! This – this appalling – Upon my word, I don’t know what to say! I came round to pay a call on Mrs Kane, and was met by this shocking news. I – really, I’m so overwhelmed by it – so upset – ! Good God, it’s incredible, utterly incredible!’ He wiped his face with his handkerchief as he spoke, and Jim saw that his hand was shaking a little. ‘Pritchard tells me he was shot in his study. I suppose you have no idea who can have done such a dastardly thing?’
‘None at all, sir.’
‘No, no, naturally not!’ Joe said. ‘It’s inexplicable! I shouldn’t have said he had an enemy in the world. Poor fellow, poor fellow!’ He became aware of Inspector Carlton at Jim’s elbow, and gave him a nod of recognition. ‘This is a terrible business, Inspector. It doesn’t bear thinking of. The loss to the firm, too! A most able fellow, a splendid man to work with, just like his cousin before him! What a tragedy!’ He shook his head, and fetching one of his gusty sighs said: ‘I had better go now. I wouldn’t dream of worrying Mrs Kane at such a moment.’ He glanced uncertainly at Carlton, and added: ‘If there’s anything I can do, or – or if you want me, Inspector, you know where you can find me, don’t you?’
‘Yes, sir. I shall be wanting to ask you one or two questions.’
‘Certainly, certainly! Anything I can tell you – only too anxious to be of assistance!’ Joe assured him.
‘If you’ll wait a minute, I’ll find out if my great-aunt can see you, Inspector,’ said Jim.
The Inspector bowed, and walked over to study a somewhat gloomy seascape hanging by the front door. Jim went into the drawing-room, where he found not only Emily, but Oscar Roberts, and Timothy, and Miss Allison as well.
Emily, having said that she saw no reason why tea should not be served as usual, was seated in her particular chair, eating a slice of bread and butter. Miss Allison, behind the tea-table, did not seem to be hungry, but Timothy and Mr Roberts were following Emily’s example.
‘Well?’ said Emily, glancing up at her favourite great-nephew. ‘Have they done yet? Your tea will be cold.’
‘Just a moment, aunt. The Inspector wants to ask you a question. May I show him in?’
Emily said, in her most disagreeable voice: ‘I don’t know what he thinks I can tell him. You can show him in if you want to.’
‘It’s only about the Australian cousin,’ explained Jim. ‘He wants to know her name. It is a she, isn’t it?’
‘What’s that Australian lot got to do with him?’ said Emily, opening her eyes to their widest extent.
‘I suppose he feels he must check up on everybody,’ replied Jim. He opened the door again, and turned. ‘Will you come in, Inspector? Mrs Kane wi
ll see you.’
The Inspector, in asking to question Mrs Kane, was doing no more than his duty, but he came rather diffidently into the room, and, confronted by the old lady seated so upright in her chair, and holding in her hand a cup and saucer, at once apologised for intruding upon her. Emily nodded at him, and stared in a way calculated to upset the coolest nerves.
‘Very sorry to disturb you, madam, I’m sure. If you would just be good enough to confirm that you were seated upon the terrace with Mr – er – Mr James Kane up till, approximately, three-thirty this afternoon –’
‘Yes, I was,’ said Emily.
‘I understand you asked Mr Kane to fetch a rug at about the time of the murder?’
‘I dare say,’ said Emily. ‘Not that I know when the murder was committed, for I don’t.’
‘You did not hear the shot, madam?’
‘No, I did not,’ said Emily. ‘If I’d heard the shot I should have said so.’
‘Yes, madam – I’m sure.’ The Inspector coughed, and added tentatively: ‘I beg pardon. But are you at all deaf, madam – if I may ask?’
Emily, who, in common with most people afflicted by slight deafness, strongly resented such an implication being made, glared at him, and said angrily: ‘There’s nothing wrong with my hearing at all! I hear very well indeed – so long as people don’t mumble at me!’
The Inspector recognised this bitter rider. He had heard it from his own father many times. He made haste to assure Emily that he quite understood.
‘If I didn’t hear the shot it was because I wasn’t near enough,’ said Emily. ‘I went for a little walk while my great-nephew was looking for the rug.’
The Inspector looked consideringly at her. She was a very old lady, he knew, and there was a cane leaning against the arm of her chair.
‘Is there anything more you want to know?’ demanded Emily.
‘Just one point, if you please, madam. Might I have the name and address of the present heir to the property?’
There was a pause. Emily was still staring at the Inspector, as though at some irrelevant intruder. She said at last: ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
Jim said helpfully: ‘The Australian lot, Aunt Emily. Isn’t there a cousin or something?’
Emily transferred her gaze slowly to his face. ‘What about her?’
‘Well, she must be the heir,’ Jim pointed out.
‘Rubbish!’ said Emily scornfully. ‘She’s no such thing. You’re the heir.’
Her words produced something in the nature of a sensation. Even Oscar Roberts, who had been tactfully gazing into his tea-cup, looked up. Miss Allison gave a gasp, and Timothy summed up the situation by saying in an awed voice: ‘Gosh!’
Jim blinked. ‘But hang it all, aunt, I can’t be! My grandfather was the youngest son, surely? This Australian woman must be senior to me!’
Emily drank her tea, and set the cup and saucer down on a small table at her elbow. ‘If you’d ever taken the trouble to read your great-grandfather’s will, which I’ve no doubt you didn’t, you’d know that while there’s a male heir living the property can’t descend to a female,’ she said.
‘Good God!’ said Jim blankly. ‘Do you mean Matthew Kane entailed it?’
‘It’s no use talking to me about entails: I don’t know anything about them. But the property doesn’t go to a woman while there’s a male Kane living – that I do know.’
An astonished silence fell. Oscar Roberts broke it, saying: ‘Well, I’ll say that beats all! Imagine you not so much as suspecting you stood next in the line of succession, Mr Kane!’
‘I’d no idea,’ said Jim. ‘I never even thought about it!’
‘Why should he?’ demanded Emily, with a fierce look at Roberts. ‘He couldn’t expect both his cousins to die within a month of each other, could he?’
‘I’ll say not, Mrs Kane,’ replied Roberts, smiling. ‘But to find yourself heir to a fortune without having had the least suspicion of its coming your way – say, that certainly is romance!’
Six
And so, Superintendent, I felt – all things being considered – that the case would be better in the hands of Scotland Yard,’ said the Chief Constable, half wishing that he had someone of real brilliance amongst his own men, half glad to be getting rid of a case that looked like being not only very unpleasant but very difficult to handle into the bargain.
Detective-Superintendent Hannasyde, of the C.I.D., nodded understandingly, and glanced from the Chief Constable to Inspector Carlton.
‘Local big-wigs, you know,’ said Colonel Maurice. ‘Not that that makes any difference, of course; but you know how it is.’
Superintendent Hannasyde did know, and said so in his deep, pleasant voice.
‘Well –’ said the Colonel. ‘You’ve read the Inspector’s notes on the case. If you’d like to talk it over with us – ?’
‘I should, sir, very much.’ Hannasyde directed a brief smile up at the Inspector, standing at the Colonel’s elbow. ‘You’ve got the advantage of me in knowing the various people concerned, Inspector. I’ll be very glad of your help.’
‘Of course, the Inspector is absolutely at your orders, Superintendent. Pull up a chair, Carlton, and sit down.’
While the Inspector complied with this order, Hannasyde laid a folder down on the table, and began to glance through the typewritten pages.
The Chief Constable started to fill a pipe. ‘I think it’s all there,’ he said.
‘Yes, sir; it’s perfectly clear. Clement Kane was shot with a .38 bullet, at a range of not less than six feet, the bullet entering the skull – yes –’ He flicked over a couple of pages, and folded the sheets open at a neat plan. ‘The inference being that the murderer shot him from outside the window.’ He laid a square forefinger on the plan, and glanced up.
‘There doesn’t seem to be any room for doubt on that point, eh, Carlton?’
‘No, sir. The desk is set at an angle, a matter of a few feet from the window. Mr Clement Kane was seated at it, as you see, Superintendent, with his left side to the window, and the bullet entered the left temple. There’s no other way out of the room beyond the door into the hall. When the shot was heard the butler, and Mrs Kane’s secretary, and Mr Roberts were in the hall, so that no one could have come out of the study by the door without they’d have seen him. According to their stories, the butler and Mr Roberts ran into the room directly they heard the shot, or at the most, half a minute later. The butler went straight to the corpse, but Mr Roberts had the sense to make a dash for the window. He was too late, but his story is that he distinctly heard someone moving amongst the bushes in the shrubbery. You’ll see by the plan, Superintendent, that there’s a regular thicket of rhododendrons and the like not ten feet from the path by the house. By my reckoning anyone standing outside the study could have got to cover before Mr Roberts had time to reach the window, coming from the hall as he did.’ He paused, and frowned down at the plan. ‘What I don’t see myself is how it was that Mr James Kane, coming out of that garden-hall immediately, as he stands to it he did, didn’t catch so much as a glimpse of anyone.’
Hannasyde’s finger travelled to the plan of the garden-hall, separated from the study only by a lavatory opening out of it. ‘Mr James Kane stated that he went out immediately? People sometimes say immediately when they mean within half a minute, you know.’
The Inspector shook his head. ‘I thought that myself, Superintendent; but he won’t have it that he wasted as much as thirty seconds. Come to think of it, if his story’s true, the gun was fired near enough to startle him so much he’d be pretty certain to run out just as he says he did.’ He rubbed his chin reflectively, eyeing the plan. ‘But if it all happened like he says, I’m bound to say I don’t see how he can have failed to have seen, or at least heard, something.
’
Hannasyde glanced back through the typescript to refresh his memory. ‘James Kane – he’s the heir, is he?’
‘Yes,’ said the Inspector slowly. ‘He is – and that’s another queer point, Superintendent. What we’re asked to believe is that he didn’t know he was. Well, I was present when old Mrs Kane came out with it, and in fairness to him I must say that if he was acting he took me in. He looked as dumbfounded as anyone would, coming into close on a quarter of a million without a word of warning, as you might say. But – well, I ask you, Superintendent! Does it seem to you reasonable he shouldn’t have had the least idea he stood next to his cousin?’
‘I don’t think that’s quite fair, Carlton,’ interposed the Colonel. ‘You must remember that a month ago his chance of inheriting the Kane fortune was very remote. It’s true Silas Kane was a bachelor, but Clement wasn’t. Moreover, Clement was quite a young man, and might very reasonably have been expected to have sons of his own. He hadn’t been married so very long – let me see, when was Clement’s wedding? I think it was about four years ago. Lots of married couples nowadays don’t seem to be in a hurry to start their nurseries. No reason to think there would never be one. Moreover, that will of old Matthew Kane’s is a very odd affair. I take it you’ve read it, Superintendent?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Well, there’s no doubt none of the younger generation was at all familiar with its details. Of course, I don’t know about Clement. He may have known, but I don’t suppose it would strike him as being particularly important. The clause excluding all female heirs while a male heir was living wouldn’t concern him; so far as Jim Kane was concerned, I should doubt very much whether he’d even know that his great-grandfather tied the estate up in the way he did.’
‘Could you tell me anything about Mr James Kane, sir?’ asked Hannasyde. ‘I see he works at the Treasury, and seems to be in comfortable circumstances. Nothing known of any debts?’
The Colonel jabbed a dead match into the dottle of a pipe in the ash-tray beside him. ‘I’ve known Jim Kane since he was a boy,’ he said. ‘Matter of fact, he was at school with my youngest boy. I should have said he’d be the last person in the world to commit a murder.’