Sparkling Cyanide Part 15

Kemp grunted.

"Now about last night. Tell me about the champagne."

"It was Clicquot, 1928 - very good and expensive wine. Mr Barton was like that - he liked good food and drink - the best." like that - he liked good food and drink - the best."

"Had he ordered the wine beforehand?"

"Yes. He had arranged everything with Charles."

"What about the vacant place at the table?"

"That, too, he had arranged for. He told Charles and he told me. A young lady would occupy it later in the evening." young lady would occupy it later in the evening."

"A young lady?" Race and Kemp looked at each other. "Do you know who the young lady was?" who the young lady was?"

Giuseppe shook his head.

"No, I know nothing about that. She was to come later, that is all I heard." heard."

"Go on about the wine. How many bottles?"

"Two bottles and a third to be ready if needed. The first bottle was finished quite quickly. The second I open not long before the cabaret. I finished quite quickly. The second I open not long before the cabaret. I fill up the gla.s.ses and put the bottle in the ice bucket." fill up the gla.s.ses and put the bottle in the ice bucket."

"When did you last notice Mr Barton drinking from his gla.s.s?"

"Let me see, when the cabaret was over, they drink the young lady's health. It is her birthday so I understand. Then they go and dance. It is health. It is her birthday so I understand. Then they go and dance. It is after that, when they come back, that Mr Barton drinks and in a after that, when they come back, that Mr Barton drinks and in a minute, like that! he is dead." minute, like that! he is dead."

"Had you filled up the gla.s.ses during the time they were dancing?"

"No, monsieur. They were full when they drank to mademoiselle and they did not drink much, only a few mouthfuls. There was plenty left in they did not drink much, only a few mouthfuls. There was plenty left in the gla.s.ses." the gla.s.ses."

"Did anyone - anyone at all - come near the table whilst they were dancing?" dancing?"

"No one at all, sir. I am sure of that."

"Did they all go to dance at the same time?"

"Yes."

"And came back at the same time?"

Giuseppe screwed up his eyes in an effort of memory.

"Mr Barton he came back first - with the young lady. He was stouter than the rest - he did not dance quite so long, you comprehend. Then than the rest - he did not dance quite so long, you comprehend. Then came the fair gentleman, Mr Farraday, and the young lady in black. came the fair gentleman, Mr Farraday, and the young lady in black. Lady Alexandra Farraday and the dark gentleman came last." Lady Alexandra Farraday and the dark gentleman came last."

"You know Mr Farraday and Lady Alexandra?"

"Yes, sir. I have seen them in the Luxembourg often. They are very distinguished." distinguished."

"Now, Giuseppe, would you have seen if one of those people had put something in Mr Barton's gla.s.s?" something in Mr Barton's gla.s.s?"

"That I cannot say, sir. I have my service, the other two tables in the alcove, and two more in the main restaurant. There are dishes to alcove, and two more in the main restaurant. There are dishes to serve. I do not watch at Mr Barton's table. After the cabaret everyone serve. I do not watch at Mr Barton's table. After the cabaret everyone nearly gets up and dances, so at that time I am standing still - and that nearly gets up and dances, so at that time I am standing still - and that is why I can be sure that no one approached the table then. But as is why I can be sure that no one approached the table then. But as soon as people sit down, I am at once very busy." soon as people sit down, I am at once very busy."

Kemp nodded.

"But I think," Giuseppe continued, "that it would be very difficult to do without being observed. It seems to me that only Mr Barton himself without being observed. It seems to me that only Mr Barton himself could do it. But you do not think so, no?" could do it. But you do not think so, no?"

He looked inquiringly at the police officer.

"So that's your idea, is it?"

"Naturally I know nothing - but I wonder. Just a year ago that beautiful lady, Mrs Barton, she kills herself. Could it not be that Mr Barton he lady, Mrs Barton, she kills herself. Could it not be that Mr Barton he grieves so much that he too decides to kill himself the same way? It grieves so much that he too decides to kill himself the same way? It would be poetic. Of course it is not good for the restaurant - but a would be poetic. Of course it is not good for the restaurant - but a gentleman who is going to kill himself would not think of that." gentleman who is going to kill himself would not think of that."

He looked eagerly from one to the other of the two men.

Kemp shook his head.

"I doubt if it's as easy as that," he said. He asked a few more questions, then Giuseppe was dismissed. questions, then Giuseppe was dismissed.

As the door closed behind Giuseppe, Race said: "I wonder if that's what we are meant to think?"

"Grieving husband kills himself on anniversary of wife's death? Not that it was the anniversary - but near enough." that it was the anniversary - but near enough."

"It was All Souls' Day," said Race.

"True. Yes, it's possible that was the idea - but if so, whoever it was can't have known about those letters being kept and that Mr Barton can't have known about those letters being kept and that Mr Barton had consulted you and shown them to Iris Marle." had consulted you and shown them to Iris Marle."

He glanced at his watch.

"I'm due at Kidderminster House at 12:30. We've time before that to go and see those people at the other two tables - some of them at any and see those people at the other two tables - some of them at any rate. Come with me, won't you, colonel?" rate. Come with me, won't you, colonel?"

Chapter 3.

Mr Morales was staying at the Ritz. He was hardly a pretty sight at this hour in the morning, still unshaven, the whites of his eyes bloodshot hour in the morning, still unshaven, the whites of his eyes bloodshot and with every sign of a severe hangover. and with every sign of a severe hangover.

Mr Morales was an American subject and spoke a variant of the American language. Though professing himself willing to remember American language. Though professing himself willing to remember anything he could, his recollections of the previous evening were of anything he could, his recollections of the previous evening were of the vaguest description. the vaguest description.

"Went with Chrissie - that baby is sure hard-boiled! She said it was a good joint. Honey pie, I said, we'll go just where you say. It was a good joint. Honey pie, I said, we'll go just where you say. It was a cla.s.sy joint, that I'll admit - and do they know how to charge you! Set cla.s.sy joint, that I'll admit - and do they know how to charge you! Set me back the best part of thirty dollars. But the band was punk - they me back the best part of thirty dollars. But the band was punk - they just couldn't seem to swing it." just couldn't seem to swing it."

Diverted from his recollections of his own evening, Mr Morales was pressed to remember the table in the middle of the alcove. Here he pressed to remember the table in the middle of the alcove. Here he was not very helpful. was not very helpful.

"Sure there was a table and some people at it. I don't remember what they looked like, though. Didn't take much account of them till the guy they looked like, though. Didn't take much account of them till the guy there croaked. Thought at first he couldn't hold his liquor. Say now, I there croaked. Thought at first he couldn't hold his liquor. Say now, I remember one of the dames. Dark hair and she had what it takes, I remember one of the dames. Dark hair and she had what it takes, I should say." should say."

"You mean the girl in the green velvet dress?"

"No, not that one. She was skinny. This baby was in black with some good curves." good curves."

It was Ruth Lessing who had taken Mr Morales' roving eye.

He wrinkled up his nose appreciatively.

"I watched her dancing - and say, could that baby dance! I gave her the high sign once or twice, but she had a frozen eye - just looked the high sign once or twice, but she had a frozen eye - just looked through me in your British way." through me in your British way."

Nothing more of value could be extracted from Mr Morales and he admitted frankly that his alcoholic condition was already well admitted frankly that his alcoholic condition was already well advanced by the time the cabaret was on. Kemp thanked him and advanced by the time the cabaret was on. Kemp thanked him and prepared to take his leave. prepared to take his leave.

"I'm sailing for New York tomorrow," said Morales. "You wouldn't," he asked wistfully, "care for me to stay on?" asked wistfully, "care for me to stay on?"

"Thank you, but I don't think your evidence will be needed at the inquest." inquest."

"You see I'm enjoying it right here - and if it was police business the firm couldn't kick. When the police tell you to stay put, you've got to firm couldn't kick. When the police tell you to stay put, you've got to stay put. Maybe I could remember something if I thought hard stay put. Maybe I could remember something if I thought hard enough?" enough?"

But Kemp declined to rise to this wistful bait, and he and Race drove to Brook Street where they were greeted by a choleric gentleman, the Brook Street where they were greeted by a choleric gentleman, the father of the Hon. Patricia Brice-Woodworth. father of the Hon. Patricia Brice-Woodworth.

General Lord Woodworth received them with a good deal of outspoken comment. comment.

What on earth was the idea of suggesting that his daughter - his daughter! - was mixed up in this sort of thing? If a girl couldn't go out daughter! - was mixed up in this sort of thing? If a girl couldn't go out with her fiance to dine in a restaurant without being subjected to with her fiance to dine in a restaurant without being subjected to annoyance by detectives and Scotland Yard, what was England annoyance by detectives and Scotland Yard, what was England coming to? She didn't even know these people what was their name - coming to? She didn't even know these people what was their name - Hubbard - Barton? Some City fellow or other! Showed you couldn't be Hubbard - Barton? Some City fellow or other! Showed you couldn't be too careful where you went - Luxembourg was always supposed to be too careful where you went - Luxembourg was always supposed to be all right - but apparently this was the second time a thing of this sort all right - but apparently this was the second time a thing of this sort had happened there. Gerald must be a fool to have taken Pat there - had happened there. Gerald must be a fool to have taken Pat there - these young men thought they knew everything. But in any case he these young men thought they knew everything. But in any case he wasn't going to have his daughter badgered and bullied and cross- wasn't going to have his daughter badgered and bullied and cross- questioned - not without a solicitor's say so. He'd ring up old Anderson questioned - not without a solicitor's say so. He'd ring up old Anderson in Lincoln's Inn and ask him - in Lincoln's Inn and ask him - Here the general paused abruptly and staring at Race said, "Seen you somewhere. Now where -?" somewhere. Now where -?"

Race's answer was immediate and came with a smile.

"Badderpore, 1923."

"By Jove," said the general. "If it isn't Johnnie Race! What are you doing mixed up in this show?" doing mixed up in this show?"

Race smiled.

"I was with Chief Inspector Kemp when the question of interviewing your daughter came up. I suggested it would be much pleasanter for your daughter came up. I suggested it would be much pleasanter for her if Inspector Kemp came round here than if she had to come down her if Inspector Kemp came round here than if she had to come down to Scotland Yard, and I thought I'd come along too." to Scotland Yard, and I thought I'd come along too."

"Oh - er - well, very decent, of you, Race."

"We naturally wanted to upset the young lady as little as possible," put in Chief Inspector Kemp. in Chief Inspector Kemp.

But at this moment the door opened and Miss Patricia Brice- Woodworth walked in and took charge of the situation with the Woodworth walked in and took charge of the situation with the coolness and detachment of the very young. coolness and detachment of the very young.

"Hallo," she said. "You're from Scotland Yard, aren't you? About last night? I've been longing for you to come. Is father being tiresome? night? I've been longing for you to come. Is father being tiresome?

Now don't daddy - you know what the doctor said about your blood pressure. Why you want to get into such states about everything, I pressure. Why you want to get into such states about everything, I can't think. I'll just take the inspectors or superintendents or whatever can't think. I'll just take the inspectors or superintendents or whatever they are into my room and I'll send Walters to you with a whisky and they are into my room and I'll send Walters to you with a whisky and soda." soda."

The general had a choleric desire to express himself in several blistering ways at once, but only succeeded in saying, "Old friend of blistering ways at once, but only succeeded in saying, "Old friend of mine. Major Race," at which introduction, Patricia lost interest in Race mine. Major Race," at which introduction, Patricia lost interest in Race and bent a beatific smile on Chief Inspector Kemp. With cool and bent a beatific smile on Chief Inspector Kemp. With cool generalship, she shepherded them out of the room and into her own generalship, she shepherded them out of the room and into her own sitting-room, firmly shutting her father in his study. sitting-room, firmly shutting her father in his study.

"Poor daddy," she observed. "He will fuss. But he's quite easy to manage really." manage really."

The conversation then proceeded on most amicable lines but with very little result. little result.

"It's maddening really," said Patricia. "Probably the only chance in my life that I shall ever have of being right on the spot when a murder was life that I shall ever have of being right on the spot when a murder was done - it is a murder, isn't it? The papers were very cautious and done - it is a murder, isn't it? The papers were very cautious and vague, but I said to Gerry on the telephone that it must be murder. vague, but I said to Gerry on the telephone that it must be murder. Think of it - a murder done right close by me and I wasn't even Think of it - a murder done right close by me and I wasn't even looking!" looking!"

The regret in her voice was unmistakable.

It was evident enough that, as the Chief Inspector had gloomily prognosticated, the two young people who had got engaged only a prognosticated, the two young people who had got engaged only a week previously had had eyes only for each other. week previously had had eyes only for each other.

With the best will in the world, a few personalities were all that Patricia Brice-Woodworth could muster. Brice-Woodworth could muster.

"Sandra Farraday was looking very smart, but then she always does. That was a Schiaparelli model she had on." That was a Schiaparelli model she had on."

"You know her?" Race asked.

Patricia shook her head.

"Only by sight. He looks rather a bore, I always think. So pompous, like most politicians." most politicians."

"Did you know any of the others by sight?"

She shook her head.

"No, I'd never seen any of them before - at least I don't think so. In fact, I don't suppose I would have noticed Sandra Farraday if it hadn't been I don't suppose I would have noticed Sandra Farraday if it hadn't been for the Schiaparelli." for the Schiaparelli."

"And you'll find," said Chief Inspector Kemp grimly as they left the house, "that Master Tollington will be exactly the same - only there house, "that Master Tollington will be exactly the same - only there won't have been even a Skipper - skipper what - sounds like a sardine - won't have been even a Skipper - skipper what - sounds like a sardine - to attract his attention." to attract his attention."

"I don't suppose," agreed Race, "that the cut of Stephen Farraday's dress suit will have caused him any heart pangs." dress suit will have caused him any heart pangs."

"Oh, well," said the inspector. "Let's try Christine Shannon. Then we'll have finished with the outside chances." have finished with the outside chances."

Miss Shannon was, as Chief Inspector Kemp had stated, a blonde lovely. The bleached hair, carefully arranged, swept back from a soft lovely. The bleached hair, carefully arranged, swept back from a soft vacant baby-like countenance. vacant baby-like countenance.

Miss Shannon might be, as Inspector Kemp had affirmed, dumb - but she was eminently easy to look at, and a certain shrewdness in the she was eminently easy to look at, and a certain shrewdness in the large baby-blue eyes indicated that her dumbness only extended in large baby-blue eyes indicated that her dumbness only extended in intellectual directions and that where horse sense and a knowledge of intellectual directions and that where horse sense and a knowledge of finance were indicated, Christine Shannon was right on the spot. finance were indicated, Christine Shannon was right on the spot.

She received the two men with the utmost sweetness, pressing drinks upon them and when these were refused, urging cigarettes. Her flat upon them and when these were refused, urging cigarettes. Her flat was small and cheaply modernistic. was small and cheaply modernistic.

"I'd just love to be able to help you, Chief Inspector. Do ask me any question you like." question you like."

Kemp led off with a few conventional questions about the bearing and demeanour of the party at the centre table. demeanour of the party at the centre table.

At once Christine showed herself to be an unusually keen and shrewd observer. observer.

"The party wasn't going well - you could see that. Stiff as stiff could be. I felt quite sorry for the old boy - the one who was giving it. Going all I felt quite sorry for the old boy - the one who was giving it. Going all out he was to try and make things go - and just as nervous as a cat on out he was to try and make things go - and just as nervous as a cat on wires - but all he could do didn't seem to cut any ice. The tall woman wires - but all he could do didn't seem to cut any ice. The tall woman he'd got on his right was as stiff as though she'd swallowed the poker he'd got on his right was as stiff as though she'd swallowed the poker and the kid on his left was just mad, you could see, because she wasn't and the kid on his left was just mad, you could see, because she wasn't sitting next to the nice-looking dark boy opposite. As for the tall fair sitting next to the nice-looking dark boy opposite. As for the tall fair fellow next to her he looked as though his tummy was out of order, ate fellow next to her he looked as though his tummy was out of order, ate his food as though he thought it would choke him. The woman next to his food as though he thought it would choke him. The woman next to him was doing her best, she pegged away at him, but she looked him was doing her best, she pegged away at him, but she looked rather as though she had the jumps herself." rather as though she had the jumps herself."

"You seem to have been able to notice a great deal, Miss Shannon," said Colonel Race. said Colonel Race.

"I'll let you into a secret. I wasn't being so much amused myself. I'd been out with that boy friend of mine three nights running, and was I been out with that boy friend of mine three nights running, and was I getting tired of him! He was all out for seeing London - especially what getting tired of him! He was all out for seeing London - especially what he called the cla.s.sy spots - and I will say for him he wasn't mean. he called the cla.s.sy spots - and I will say for him he wasn't mean. Champagne every time. We went to the Compradour and the Mille Champagne every time. We went to the Compradour and the Mille Fleurs and finally the Luxembourg, and I'll say he enjoyed himself. In a Fleurs and finally the Luxembourg, and I'll say he enjoyed himself. In a way it was kind of pathetic. But his conversation wasn't what you'd call way it was kind of pathetic. But his conversation wasn't what you'd call interesting. Just long histories of business deals he'd put through in interesting. Just long histories of business deals he'd put through in Mexico and most of those I heard three times - and going on to all the Mexico and most of those I heard three times - and going on to all the dames he'd known and how mad they were about him. A girl gets kind dames he'd known and how mad they were about him. A girl gets kind of tired of listening after a while and you'll admit that Pedro is nothing of tired of listening after a while and you'll admit that Pedro is nothing much to look at - so I just concentrated on the eats and let my eyes much to look at - so I just concentrated on the eats and let my eyes roam round." roam round."

"Well, that's excellent from our point of view, Miss Shannon," said the Chief Inspector. "And I can only hope that you will have seen Chief Inspector. "And I can only hope that you will have seen something that may help us solve our problem." something that may help us solve our problem."

Christine shook her blonde head.