Behold Here's Poison (20 page)

'I know, I know, but I've got to follow up the clues I've got. Randall didn't want me to pursue investigations into Hyde. He talked about mares' nests, and tried to make me believe he was not interested in Hyde. But he was sufficiently interested to pay a call on Brown, and to stay for nearly an hour in his shop.'

'Yes,' admitted the Sergeant. 'And I wouldn't wonder but what he knows one or two members of the Cavalry Club.'

'Nothing more likely,' said Hannasyde. 'I've got to try and rattle him.'

'It's him that'll do the rattling,' said the Sergeant darkly. 'He's the nearest thing to a snake I've seen outside of the Zoo.'

On this pronouncement they parted, the Sergeant boarding an omnibus bound for the Bank, and Hannasyde making his way westwards to St James's Street.

He found Randall at home, writing letters at his desk. Randall, as Benson ushered the Superintendent into the room, said without looking up from his task: 'Do come in, and make yourself quite at home, my dear Superintendent. We are becoming almost boon companions, I feel. You will find cigarettes on the table by the sofa. Forgive me if I finish this letter, won't you?'

'Please do finish it,' said Hannasyde. 'For I want your undivided attention, Mr Matthews!'

'You shall certainly have it,' replied Randall, his hand continuing to travel across the paper. He signed his name, enclosed the letter in an envelope, and sealed it. Then he took the telephone receiver off its hook, and dialled a number, and while waiting for an answer wrote the direction on the envelope. After that he picked up a newspaper, folded open at the racing news, and spoke into the telephone. Having placed three bets with his bookmaker he laid down the receiver, and got up. 'The more arduous of the day's tasks being accomplished, I am now almost entirely at your disposal, Superintendent,' he said. 'Which reminds me that I have to thank you for the removal of the brown-booted gentleman. That was most considerate of you, but you need only have given him a pair of black boots. I had no personal feeling against him, I assure you. In fact, I thought he had a nice, kind face.'

'He would no doubt be flattered to hear you say so,' replied Hannasyde. 'I am sorry if his presence hampered your movements in any way. That was not my intention.'

'Of course it wasn't,' agreed Randall affably.

Hannasyde looked directly across at him. 'Perhaps you have guessed why I have come here today, Mr Matthews?'

'Well, no, I don't think I have,' said Randall. 'Unless, of course, it is to ask me what I was able to discover from the unsavoury gentleman in Gadsby Row?'

Hannasyde felt all at once a strong desire to take Mr Randall Matthews by the throat and choke him. Instead he answered in his most even tones: 'Yes, it is to ask you that, Mr Matthews.'

'Delighted,' murmured Randall. 'But I'm afraid I didn't discover anything of very much importance.'

'My information,' said Hannasyde, 'is that you asked Brown if he knew where Hyde kept his papers.'

It was a bold stroke, but if its design was to make Randall betray the least sign of uneasiness it failed. 'And does your information include Brown's answer?' inquired Randall politely.

'I am waiting for you to tell me what that was, Mr Matthews. And I think you would be wise to do so.'

'My dear Superintendent, you mustn't—you really mustn't utter veiled threats to me,' said Randall with gentle reproach. 'They are quite unnecessary, believe me. If you don't know where Hyde's papers are—but I find that almost incredible—I will tell you. They are in a safe-deposit. Now, isn't that disheartening? I paid ten pounds for the knowledge, too.'

'Why didn't you bring this news to me, Mr Matthews?'

'But why should I?' asked Randall, very bland. 'Surely if I could discover it, you clever experts could do so too?'

'We experts,' said Hannasyde, nettled, 'are not allowed to resort to bribery!'

'Ah, I daresay that hinders you considerably,' nodded Randall.

'What made you take so sudden an interest in Hyde?' asked Hannasyde. 'When last I saw you you were at pains to convince me that you had no interest in him.'

'You infected me with some of your own enthusiasm, Superintendent,' said Randall, with a graceful bow.

'Did I indeed?' said Hannasyde grimly. 'And was it my enthusiasm which made you anxious to find out where Hyde's papers were kept?'

'Strictly speaking,' said Randall, 'I wasn't anxious about his papers. But it is my business as executor to my late uncle to wind up his estate. I think Mr Hyde wants winding up with the rest, don't you?'

'You know very well that I do, Mr Matthews. But if you think that, I don't understand why you refused to cooperate with me in any way when I called on you before.'

Randall regarded him with an expression of courteous surprise. 'My dear Superintendent, my recollection of your call is that you came to ask me what I knew of one John Hyde. I knew nothing of him, and I told you so. I don't remember being asked to co-operate with you?'

'You were aware that I attached importance to him, however. Why did you choose to visit Brown without telling me?'

'For very much the same reason that I chose to have my hair cut yesterday without telling you,' drawled Randall. 'And—er—would not my telling you have been a little superfluous? I felt quite sure that the myrmidon on duty in Gadsby Row would tell you all about my visit.'

'He could not tell me what you had discovered, Mr Matthews, and you made no attempt to. How am I to take that?'

'Exactly as you please, of course,' replied Randall. 'But I should like to remind you that I am not—ah, employed by Scotland Yard to gather information, and to assure you that if you imagine it has ever been my practice gratuitously to help policemen, or, in fact, anyone else, you have a singularly erroneous idea of my character.'

'Mr Matthews,' said Hannasyde bluntly, 'I tell you frankly that the attitude you have chosen to adopt will do you no good. It leads me to suspect very strongly that for some reason best known to yourself you do not want your uncle's murderer to be discovered.'

Randall's expressive black brows rose. 'You should not give way to mere prejudice, Superintendent,' he said. 'Are you accusing me of suppressing valuable evidence? I would point out to you that when you asked me if I had elicited from Brown where Hyde had kept his papers I told you with the utmost readiness.'

'With the utmost readiness when it was too late to be of use!' Hannasyde said sternly.

'Now you are talking in riddles,' sighed Randall. 'If you want me to understand you you will have to be more intelligible.'

'Would it surprise you to learn that John Hyde's safe was visited early this morning, and its entire contents removed?' asked Hannasyde.

Randall's brow wrinkled slightly. 'No, I don't know that I think it would,' he replied, after a pause for consideration. 'Perhaps he was aware of the interest you take in him.'

Hannasyde pulled the folded newspaper out of his pocket, and handed it to Randall. 'Take a look at the announcements of deaths, Mr Matthews!' he said.

Randall glanced down the column, and said placidly: 'Well, well! How very disconcerting! Does it happen to be true?'

'I have every reason to believe that it is entirely false,' answered Hannasyde. 'But it enabled some person calling himself Hyde's brother to get at the safe, and to walk off with the contents.'

'I don't wonder that you are out of humour,' said Randall sympathetically. 'Can't you trace this person? And did the officials in charge of the safe-depository just break open the safe, or use a skeleton key, or what? It all sounds most irregular.'

'That wasn't necessary,' said Hannasyde. 'The so-called brother had Hyde's key in his possession.'

Randall laid down the paper. 'Had he indeed? Well, that puts me in mind of a piece of information which I think might be really useful to you. Brown told me that Hyde always carried that key on his watch chain.'

There was a pause. Hannasyde still stood looking at Randall from under heavy brows, and at last he said slowly: 'Did he?'

'Yes,' said Randall, putting a cigarette between his lips, and feeling in his pocket for his lighter. It was not there; he glanced round the room, saw it lying on his desk, and strolled over to get it. 'Which, when one comes to think about it (but I admit I haven't thought very deeply) would seem to imply that either John Hyde is dead, or that the person calling himself his brother was in reality Hyde himself.' He lit his cigarette, and slid the lighter into his pocket. 'Or,' he continued reflectively, 'it might, of course, mean several other things.'

'As what?' Hannasyde asked.

Randall exhaled two spirals of smoke down his thin nostrils. 'As, for instance, that he has been robbed of his key by some person unknown, or even murdered. I should look for an unidentified corpse if I were you, Superintendent. Failing that, why not find out who put that notice in the paper?'

'I mean to,' said Hannasyde. He added with startling abruptness: 'Do you ever visit the Cavalry Club, Mr Matthews?'

'Frequently,' replied Randall. 'Why?'

'Have you been there recently, may I ask?'

'Yes, I lunched there a couple of days ago,' replied Randall without the least hesitation. 'Have you any objection?'

'None at all, Mr Matthews. And do you ever write letters on the club notepaper?'

'Certainly not,' replied Randall rather haughtily. 'I am not a member of the club. Are there any other little things you would like me to tell you?'

'There are many things I should like you to tell me, Mr Matthews, but I think I will not trouble you with them today.' He picked up the newspaper, and restored it to his pocket.

'I believe,' said Randall, faintly smiling, 'that for some obscure reason of your own, you connect me with the disappearance of Hyde, or his papers, or both. Would you like to search my flat?'

Somewhat taken aback Hannasyde said shortly: 'No, Mr Matthews, I should not. I have no warrant to search your flat, nor do I suppose that I should find anything if' I had. I will wish you good-morning.'

Randall opened the door for him, and followed him out into the hall. 'Good-bye, my dear Superintendent,' he said, with his hand on the latch of the front door. 'Or shall I say au revoir? Come in any time you're passing: I am always pleased to see you.'

'You are too kind!' said Hannasyde. 'Good-bye, Mr Matthews!'

He went out, just as Stella Matthews came up the stairs on to the landing.

'Why, if it is not my beloved little cousin Stella!' said Randall, an inflexion of surprise in his voice. 'My sweet, is it possible that you have come to call on me, or have you merely got into the wrong house?'

Stella murmured good-morning to the Superintendent, and waited until he had disappeared round a bend in the staircase. 'No, I've come to see you—on business,' she replied. 'I tried Mr Carrington's office, but he was out, so I thought I might as well come here, and sound you.' She walked into the dove-grey hall, and looked critically about her. 'What a weird-looking room!' she remarked. 'Like some of Guy's efforts.'

'My God!' said Randall in a failing voice. 'My poor ignorant child, have you no discrimination?'

'I don't like rooms to be affected,' replied Stella. 'I call this damned affected.'

Randall said lovingly: 'Shall I now tell you what I think of that hat you are wearing, my precious?'

'As a matter of fact, I know it isn't one of my better efforts,' admitted Stella candidly. 'So you needn't trouble. Where can we talk?'

'In here,' said Randall, leading the way to the library. 'Don't hesitate to say what you think of this room, will you? Your opinion is entirely valueless, but I shouldn't like you to feel constrained to keep it to yourself.'

'Well, I don't mind this room,' said Stella. 'A bit opulent, perhaps, but that's your affair.' She walked over to the fireplace, inspected a bronze figure on the mantelpiece, and said rather haltingly: 'Look here—I—you're probably wondering what on earth I've come here for.'

'Oh no!' said Randall, setting his finger on the bell. 'You have come here because you want me to do something for you. I have few illusions, my pet.'

'No, I don't. Not exactly. At least—Well, I'd better explain.'

'Reserve your explanations until you have removed that hat and powdered your nose,' said Randall.

'I'm not going to remove it. I've only come for a minute.'

'Whether you have come for a minute or for an hour, I decline to sit looking at that utterly discordant atrocity. I did not invite you to my flat, and if you do not care to make yourself presentable you may go away again,' said Randall coolly.

Stella flushed, but took off the offending hat and threw it aside. 'All right, then. You don't lose many opportunities of making yourself objectionable, do you?'

'I endeavour to live up to your expectations, my love,' said Randall. He turned, as Benson came into the room. 'The sherry, Benson. Or do you prefer a cocktail, Stella?'

'I don't want either, thanks.'

'Bring the sherry, Benson. And lay for Miss Matthews.'

'Oh, I haven't come to lunch!' said Stella hurriedly.

'Lay for Miss Matthews,' repeated Randall. He picked up the cigarette-box, and offered it to Stella. 'Must you oppose my every suggestion, darling? Or are you afraid of poison?'

'Shut up!' Stella said fiercely. 'We've had enough of that subject! I wish now I hadn't come.'

'Why did you?' he inquired.

She suddenly looked rather forlorn, and said in an undecided voice: 'I don't know. I mean, I had to see either you or Mr Carrington. It's about the money uncle left me.'

'Which you wouldn't touch if you were starving,' said Randall. 'What do you want me to do with it? Found a home for lost cats?'

'No, I don't. I know I said I wouldn't touch it, but I've changed my mind.'

'You've plenty of time to change it again before you're twenty-five,' said Randall.

'Yes, but that's the whole point. I —' She broke off, for Benson had come back into the room with the sherry. When he had set the tray on the table and gone away again, she took a firm grip on her handbag, and said: 'What I want to know is this: if I—if I signed a paper saying I wouldn't marry Deryk Fielding, ever, could I possibly have the money now?'