Ne'er Do Well (11 page)

“‘I hope you're right. Can you tell me about the Will?'

“‘I've a copy here, Superintendent. It's simple enough.'

“I read it through.

“Curfew Place, as it stands, goes to George Selden for life with five thousand a year. His stables to three Trustees, of whom George Selden is one: and fifty thousand with them. The establishment to be gradually reduced, with as little hardship as possible to man or beast: Selden's advice to be honoured on every point. The residue goes to his heir. Certain legacies to servants.

“As I handed the document back –

“‘Then Curfew Place,' I said, ‘was not entailed.'

“‘Oh, no. It isn't a seat. He bought it in '45. The family place is near Oakham. It's been let to Sir Arthur Lackland for several years.'

“‘I see. And the heir?'

“‘His cousin. A very decent fellow, rather shy. Rather older than Lord St Amant. A widower with two boys. He's on his way back now.'

“‘Well-to-do?'

“‘Yes. His wife was a very rich girl.'

“I got to my feet.

“‘Well, thank you very much.'

“‘Er, about the funeral, Superintendent. I was hoping perhaps we could have it on Monday next.'

“‘I'm sure you can,' I said. ‘But that's not a matter for me. I should see the Coroner this morning.'

“‘May I say that you've no objection?'

“‘Yes, indeed.'

“‘He'll be buried at Curfew, of course. I think it should be most private. A memorial service later.'

“‘I should think that would be best.'

“Then Paterson rang up.

“‘Are you coming this morning, Superintendent?'

“‘I was coming to see you,' I said. ‘Why do you ask?'

“‘It's nothing of importance,' he said, ‘but the Mother Superior has her solicitor here.'

“‘She'd like me to meet him?' I said.

“‘Yes.'

“‘In half an hour's time,' I said…

“I tied up a few more ends. Then I took the car and drove to the Home.

“I was taken at once to the Mother Superior's room.

“I must say she spoke very nicely.

“‘Superintendent, this is my solicitor, Mr Bateman. I have been telling him how fortunate we find it that you are in charge of this case.'

“‘That's very kind of you, madam.'

“‘I mean what I say. And now I have things to attend to; so will you talk together in a consulting-room?'

“So off we went.

“Bateman, I should say, is an excellent business man. But in a matter like this he was out of his depth. And he was much too wise to try to cover it up. He was very deferential. Would I mind if he came to the Inquest?

“‘Mr Bateman,' I said, ‘it's right that you should be there. But I hope you won't ask any questions
–
I mean, at this stage.'

“‘Indeed, I shan't, Superintendent. From what my client says, it would be an impertinence.'

“‘You mustn't feel that. As representing the Home, you would be within your rights. But just for today, I hope you'll reserve any points and make them to me later on.'

“‘That's very kind of you. But matters like this, Superintendent, are not in my line.'

“‘I know. But you have a legal mind. And in a case like this I want all the help I can get. I've really nothing to tell you that you don't know. I suspect that Lord St Amant was poisoned. Whether he was or was not, I shall know tonight. Dr Paterson will be told, as soon as I have the news. If he was poisoned, it cannot have been accidental: and I am perfectly sure that he didn't poison himself.'

“‘A shocking thing, Superintendent.'

“‘From every point of view.'

“Bateman lowered his voice.

“‘Er, if I may say so, Superintendent, you've handled the Mother Superior wonderfully well. She speaks most cordially of you. And that, you must take it from me, is a tribute indeed. She's a wonderful woman, you know. But terribly jealous of her prerogative. I don't know how you've done it, but you have won her respect.'

“‘I'm very glad, if I have, if for no other reason, because I respect her so much. I mean, she's been spared nothing. Lord St Amant was always what is called ‘news'. And now he has died by the administration of poison, while in her charge. Such a disaster must have hit her between the eyes. A knock-out blow, Mr Bateman. And she has met it, as though it were a flick on the chin. She commands my great admiration
–
and that is the truth.'

“We parted on excellent terms, and I asked for Paterson.

“He came in a minute or two.

“‘Three things only,' I said. ‘First, the result of the analysis should be in my hands by five. If poison has been found, I shall ring you up. I shan't discuss the matter: the fact that I ring you up will mean that it has been found.'

“‘I quite understand.'

“‘Secondly, tell me this. You're the House Surgeon here; but have you no assistant?'

“‘I have, but he is on leave. I had a wire today, asking if he should return. I propose to say no. He's in the South of France.'

“‘When did he start his leave?'

“‘A fortnight ago on Sunday.'

“‘Isn't the work here too much for one man?'

“‘Not as a rule. Take the rooms on the terrace. There's only one man there that I have to watch. And I can do little more than the sisters do. His specialist comes to see him twice a week.'

“‘But you're always at hand.'

“‘Oh, yes. But I don't mind that. I'm very well lodged and looked after. When you have time, you must come and see my house.'

“‘I'd like to. Now for the third thing. Did you see the woman who visited Dallas on Sunday?'

“Paterson shook his head.

“‘I didn't know that he'd had a visitor.'

“I told him some of what I had learned.

“‘French?' he said. ‘I know that he lives in France.'

“I shrugged my shoulders.

“‘There's probably nothing in it. I think that's all. Will you make your own way to the Court?'

“‘I think perhaps I'd better.'

“‘The local superintendent will be in charge.'

“‘Holer. I know him, of course. He's a very decent chap.'

“‘And I shall be in the background.'

“‘I'm glad of that. You're going to take Sister Helena?'

“‘Yes.'

“‘I'm glad of that, too.'

“‘D'you know who's coming with her?'

“‘I've no idea. Sister Claude, I should think. She's played duenna before.'

“I drove to
The Crown
for lunch, but the Press had taken possession and I could hardly get in. They fell upon me, of course. ‘Nonsense,' I said. ‘You don't want me today.' ‘We always want you,' and so on. ‘I think you've enough with the Inquest, but if you like, I'll see you at six o'clock.' ‘That's good enough, Superintendent.' A meal there was out of the question, so I got Rogers out of his room and we drove to the Station forthwith. They sent out for some food for us, and we really did very well.

“Afterwards, Rogers and I had a little talk. I told him about the Frenchwoman and set him the thankless task of checking the line which the grey car had taken on Monday or, possibly, Tuesday night. As a matter of fact, if she was driving that car, it shouldn't be very hard. He'll work on that while I'm away.

“Then I spoke about something else.

“‘Rogers,' I said, ‘I've left you alone a lot, but you mustn't think I want this case to myself.'

“‘Never entered my head, Super.'

“‘Well, that's all right. But I want you to understand that, so far as the Convent's concerned, this is a one-man job.'

“‘You're telling me, sir,' says Rogers. ‘And now I'll tell you something. I know where I get off, and I'm better outside those gates. And I'm very glad to think that you're sleeping away, for there's nowhere at all to sit, except in the bar. That's all right for me, for they talk to me at night, as they'd never have talked to you. You see, you're too well known. But I've picked up bits and pieces, and they're going in my report.'

“‘Well, that's all right,' I said. ‘So long as you understand.'

“‘No call to say that, Super. We've worked together too long.'

“At a quarter past one we left for the Nursing Home. We took two cars. Rogers knew what to do. He drove himself, but I had a driver with me.

“When I looked at the porteress
–

“‘Consulting-room B,' she said.

“I knocked on the door. Sister Helena opened this.

“‘Ready?' I said, smiling.

“‘I think so,' she said and stepped back.

“Her companion rose to her feet.

“It was the Mother Superior.

“‘We are ready, Superintendent,' she said.

“I could only bow. I don't think I could have spoken, if I had known what to say. I was honestly overcome. I remembered Paterson's words,
She loves her flock
. Well, this was love. For this great lady, this Abbess, this almost legendary figure was going like some humble sister to share with one of her children that child's ordeal. She could have sent whom she pleased. But no, she must go herself, to endure the vulgar surroundings, to court the stares of the morbid and the hungry gaze of the Press… I felt that was truly great.”

“So it was,” said Mansel. “And not only great. It was the way of Christ. My God, what it must have cost her!”

“I know,” said Falcon. “I can't remember when I've been so much moved.

“I stood back for them to pass…

“The blinds of both cars were drawn. They entered mine. Before I shut the door
–

“‘Madam,' I said, ‘I beg that you will stay in the car, until I, and nobody else, ask you to alight.'

“‘Very well, Superintendent. Thank you.'

“Rogers took my seat by the driver, and I took the wheel of his car and led the way…

“A constable was waiting at the Station and took his seat by my side. He told me the way to go, and the other car followed behind.

“A crowd was surging about the door of the Court. But the gates of the yard came first. As we approached, I saw them begin to open.

“‘You're passing it, sir,' cried the constable.

“‘That's all right,' I said, with my eyes on the mirror above.

“I saw my car disappear.

“As I drew up to the Court, I saw the cameras… All eyes were fast upon me, and I fancy that very few people had noticed the second car. I took my time getting out, and as I made for the steps, Rogers came quietly up and took my place at the wheel.

“I passed through the dingy hall, down a passage and into the Mortuary Yard. I told the driver to have the car turned and ready before I came back. Then I opened the door, and the two got out.

“Rogers waited two minutes before he drove off. And the Press waited with him. If you remember, the blinds of his car were drawn. By the time he let in his clutch, I had the ladies comfortably settled in Court.

“I won't describe the Inquest. The Coroner did it well. Sister Helena's demeanour was perfect. Her appearance caused a sensation
–
when she entered the box, I mean. I can't say that I was surprised. Till then she had kept her head bowed: but then she held it up. Raphael, perhaps, could have caught the purity of her features and the blue and white of her robes. And that very sweet, low voice… She never faltered once, and I heard every single word. Paterson gave his evidence very well. Throughout the proceedings, the silence in Court was most remarkable. No rustle, not a murmur, until a witness stood down. Then everyone seemed to relax…

“And then, at last, it was over.

“They got away as they had come: but this time I sat in front. Rogers was outside the Court with an empty car and a constable standing beside it. When he saw me leave the yard, he followed behind. So we escaped attention. But I have an uneasy feeling that we shan't be so lucky again.

“When we reached the Home, I saw them out of the car and into the hall.

“There the Mother Superior turned and put out her hand.

“‘Superintendent,' she said, ‘we are very deep in your debt.' I took her fingers and bowed. ‘Can you spare me ten minutes tomorrow
–
at, shall we say, half past ten?'

“‘I shall be here, madam.'

“Then both of them bowed very sweetly and I withdrew.

“I entered Rogers' car and we drove to the Station at once. The other car followed behind.

“The result of the analysis was there. I should have told you before that they've set apart an office for Rogers and me to use. I opened the envelope there.

“With the official report was a letter from Sir William himself, saying in very plain terms exactly what we wanted to know. No medical jargon, I mean.”

Falcon's hand went to his pocket and drew out a foolscap sheet.

“I've got it here, and I'll read you what it says.

 

Lord St Amant was poisoned.

The poison administered was MAFRA – a little-known drug.

I first came across it in France in 1939. The Sûreté, were worried about it. It seemed to be being supplied to well-bred Society women in tablet form. They didn't use it: but they knew that war was coming and they kept it ready in case things should go wrong. If a German should offer them violence, rather than suffer that, they could take their own lives. The dose was two white tablets – which I was shown.

MAFRA is very efficient. Death would be certain, painless and swift, say thirty to fifty seconds – no more than that. The actual time would depend on the state of the victim's heart. The dose was supplied in capsules – two tablets in each. It was said that saliva would not dissolve the capsule, which could therefore be concealed in the mouth and only swallowed if the worst should befall. I did not see such a capsule and I doubt such efficacy. MAFRA can still be procured in France, though not, of course, openly: and many ladies keep it in case the Russians should come. There are two or three cases on record of poisoning in this way. But this is the first case in England, so far as I know.”