G. D. H. Cole · Chapter 24 (2/2)

Losing no time, they got to work. First, they made a list of everyone who had been present at the dinner on the evening of the tragedy⁠—Sir Vernon. John Prinsep, George Brooklyn and his wife, Carter and Mrs. Woodman, Lucas, Mary Woodman⁠—and themselves. Next came the servants⁠—Winter, Morgan, Agnes Dutch, the two other maids, the hired waiters. These were the only persons who, as far as they knew, had been in the house that night. Next, they wrote down exactly what they knew of the doings of every one of these people, leaving spaces in which they could fill in further particulars as they discovered more. When it was finished the list and comments took this form:⁠—

“That ‘self’ looks very suspicious,” said Joan, as Ellery wrote it down.

“Yes, we are suspecting ourselves as well as others. I strongly suspect you.”

“And I you. But get on.”

“Another suspect,” said Ellery.

“Poor Mary,” said Joan. “She couldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Then I suspect her all the more.”

“He went to bed. But did he stay there? That’s the point.”

“Put down ‘Did he stay there? No clear evidence.’ After all, Morgan says he did.”

“Yes, but Morgan isn’t sure.”

“We come to him next.”

“I say, there wouldn’t be much evidence of what Morgan did, if it wasn’t for Winter. Suppose they were both in it. Winter’s story depends on Morgan’s almost as much as Morgan’s on his.”

“We suspect them both. At least I don’t, but I mean to pretend to do so. Who’s next?”

“Agnes Dutch.”

“Put her down.”

“Next, please.”

“The maidservants.”

“They’re all in the same position. Put them down.”

“More collusion.”

“Don’t be silly. Now we come to the people who weren’t sleeping in the house.”

“But she’s out of it anyway.”

“Yes, poor Marian.”

“That seems all right.”

“Yes. Helen’s next.”

“And now we come to you, Bob.”

“Oh, I’m no use. I have a proved alibi already. I’m in the same position as your revered stepfather.”

“Put yourself down all the same.”

“But did you stay in bed?”

“And slept like a top.”

“That only leaves Uncle Harry.”

“Oh, he left in his car at 10:15, and went straight back to Hampstead. He told me the police had made inquiries, and confirmed that he got back at 10:45, and did not go out again.”

“Put him down.”

“And that’s everybody.”

“Yes, and I don’t know that we’re much further. There is no one on this list you can possibly suspect, except perhaps Morgan, and he can hardly have done it unless Winter was in it too.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Then whom do you suspect.”

“No one and everyone. I want time to think that list over. Leave it with me, and I’ll put on my considering cap, and tell you tomorrow.”

“Don’t you go suspecting poor Winter, like the police.”

“My dear Joan, this is most undetective-like advice. You ought to make a point of suspecting everybody.”

“I make an exception of Winter.”

“I’m afraid you want to make an exception of everybody. I have a far more suspicious nature.”

“Is there anything I can do while you’re thinking it over?”

“Yes. Go and see Carter Woodman and find out all you can about John’s circumstances at the time of the murder. Carter may know something about this Winter story, or be able at any rate to tell you something useful we don’t know. Then come here tomorrow morning, and I’ll tell you if I’ve had a brainwave.”

Then at last Ellery said goodbye, and Joan went to get the sleep she badly needed.