Sparkling Cyanide Part 3

And behind the mask of her pale smiling face no one could know what she was thinking. A woman like a sphinx. she was thinking. A woman like a sphinx.

Of Stephen they had seen less. He was very busy, often absent on political business. To Iris it seemed certain that he deliberately political business. To Iris it seemed certain that he deliberately avoided the Little Priors party more than he could help. avoided the Little Priors party more than he could help.

So August had pa.s.sed and September, and it was decided that in October they should go back to the London house. October they should go back to the London house.

Iris had drawn a deep breath of relief. Perhaps, once they were back George would return to his normal self. George would return to his normal self.

And then, last night, she had been roused by a low tapping on her door. She switched on the light and glanced at the time. Only one door. She switched on the light and glanced at the time. Only one o'clock. She had gone to bed at half-past ten and it had seemed to her o'clock. She had gone to bed at half-past ten and it had seemed to her it was much later. it was much later.

She threw on a dressing-gown and went to the door. Somehow that seemed more natural than just to shout "Come in." seemed more natural than just to shout "Come in."

George was standing outside. He had not been to bed and was still in his evening clothes. His breath was coming unevenly and his face was his evening clothes. His breath was coming unevenly and his face was a curious blue colour. a curious blue colour.

He said: "Come down to the study, Iris. I've got to talk to you. I've got to talk to someone." talk to someone."

Wondering, still dazed with sleep, she obeyed.

Inside the study, he shut the door and motioned her to sit opposite him at the desk. He pushed the cigarette box across to her, at the same at the desk. He pushed the cigarette box across to her, at the same time taking one and lighting it, after one or two attempts, with a time taking one and lighting it, after one or two attempts, with a shaking hand. shaking hand.

She said, "Is anything the matter, George?"

She was really alarmed now. He looked ghastly.

George spoke between small gasps, like a man who has been running.

"I can't go on by myself. I can't keep it any longer. You've got to tell me what you think - whether it's true - whether it's possible -" what you think - whether it's true - whether it's possible -"

"But what is it you're talking about, George?"

"You must have noticed something, seen something. There must have been something she said. There must have been a reason." She stared been something she said. There must have been a reason." She stared at him. at him.

He pa.s.sed his hand over his forehead.

"You don't understand what I'm talking about. I can see that. Don't look so scared, little girl. You've got to help me. You've got to remember so scared, little girl. You've got to help me. You've got to remember every d.a.m.ned thing you can. Now, now, I know I sound a bit every d.a.m.ned thing you can. Now, now, I know I sound a bit incoherent, but you'll understand in a minute - when I've shown you the incoherent, but you'll understand in a minute - when I've shown you the letters." letters."

He unlocked one of the drawers at the side of the desk and took out two single sheets of paper. two single sheets of paper.

They were of a pale innocuous blue, with words printed on them in small prim letters. small prim letters.

"Read that," said George.

Iris stared down at the paper. What it said was quite clear and devoid of circ.u.mlocution: of circ.u.mlocution: "YOU THINK YOUR WIFE COMMITTED SUICIDE. SHE DIDN'T. SHE.

WAS KILLED.".

The second ran: "YOUR WIFE ROSEMARY DIDN'T KILL HERSELF. SHE WAS.

MURDERED.".

As Iris stayed staring at the words, George went on: "They came about three months ago. At first I thought it was a joke - a cruel rotten sort of joke. Then I began to think. Why should Rosemary cruel rotten sort of joke. Then I began to think. Why should Rosemary have killed herself?" have killed herself?"

Iris said in a mechanical voice: "Depression after influenza."

"Yes, but really when you come to think of it, that's rather piffle, isn't it?

I mean lots of people have influenza and feel a bit depressed afterwards - what?" afterwards - what?"

Iris said with an effort: "She might - have been unhappy?"

"Yes, I suppose she might." George considered the point quite calmly.

"But all the same I don't see Rosemary putting an end to herself because she was unhappy. She might threaten to, but I don't think she because she was unhappy. She might threaten to, but I don't think she would really do it when it came to the point." would really do it when it came to the point."

"But she must have done, George! What other explanation could there be? Why, they even found the stuff in her handbag." be? Why, they even found the stuff in her handbag."

"I know. It all hangs together. But ever since these came," he tapped the anonymous letters with his fingernail, "I've been turning things the anonymous letters with his fingernail, "I've been turning things over in my mind. And the more I've thought about it the more I feel sure over in my mind. And the more I've thought about it the more I feel sure there's something in it. That's why I've asked you all those questions - there's something in it. That's why I've asked you all those questions - about Rosemary ever making any enemies. About anything she'd ever about Rosemary ever making any enemies. About anything she'd ever said that sounded as though she were afraid of someone. Whoever said that sounded as though she were afraid of someone. Whoever killed her must have had a reason -" killed her must have had a reason -"

"But, George, you're crazy -"

"Sometimes I think I am. Other times I know that I'm on the right track. But I've got to know. I've got to find out. You've got to help me, Iris. But I've got to know. I've got to find out. You've got to help me, Iris. You've got to think. You've got to remember. That's it - remember. Go You've got to think. You've got to remember. That's it - remember. Go back over that night again and again. Because you do see, don't you, back over that night again and again. Because you do see, don't you, that if she was killed, it must have been someone who was at the table that if she was killed, it must have been someone who was at the table that night? You do see that, don't you?" that night? You do see that, don't you?"

Yes, she had seen that. There was no pushing aside the remembrance of that scene any longer. She must remember it all. The music, the roll of that scene any longer. She must remember it all. The music, the roll of drums, the lowered lights, the cabaret and the lights going up again of drums, the lowered lights, the cabaret and the lights going up again and Rosemary sprawled forward on the table, her face blue and and Rosemary sprawled forward on the table, her face blue and convulsed. convulsed.

Iris shivered. She was frightened now - horribly frightened...

She must think - go back - remember.

Rosemary, that's for remembrance.

There was to be no oblivion.

Chapter 2.

RUTH LESSING.

Ruth Lessing, during a momentary lull in her busy day, was remembering her employer's wife, Rosemary Barton. remembering her employer's wife, Rosemary Barton.

She had disliked Rosemary Barton a good deal. She had never known quite how much until that November morning when she had first talked quite how much until that November morning when she had first talked with Victor Drake. with Victor Drake.

That interview with Victor had been the beginning of it all, had set the whole train in motion. Before then, the things she had felt and thought whole train in motion. Before then, the things she had felt and thought had been so far below the stream of her consciousness that she hadn't had been so far below the stream of her consciousness that she hadn't really known about them. really known about them.

She was devoted to George Barton. She always had been. When she had first come to him, a cool, competent young woman of twenty- had first come to him, a cool, competent young woman of twenty- three, she had seen that he needed taking charge of. She had taken three, she had seen that he needed taking charge of. She had taken charge of him. She had saved him time, money and worry. She had charge of him. She had saved him time, money and worry. She had chosen his friends for him, and directed him to suitable hobbies. She chosen his friends for him, and directed him to suitable hobbies. She had restrained him from ill-advised business adventures, and had restrained him from ill-advised business adventures, and encouraged him to take judicious risks on occasions. Never once in encouraged him to take judicious risks on occasions. Never once in their long a.s.sociation had George suspected her of being anything their long a.s.sociation had George suspected her of being anything other than subservient, attentive and entirely directed by himself. He other than subservient, attentive and entirely directed by himself. He took a distinct pleasure in her appearance, the neat shining dark head, took a distinct pleasure in her appearance, the neat shining dark head, the smart tailormades and the crisp shirts, the small pearls in her well- the smart tailormades and the crisp shirts, the small pearls in her well- shaped ears, the pale discreetly powdered face and the faint shaped ears, the pale discreetly powdered face and the faint restrained rose shade of her lipstick. restrained rose shade of her lipstick.

Ruth, he felt, was absolutely right. He liked her detached impersonal manner, her complete absence of sentiment or familiarity. In manner, her complete absence of sentiment or familiarity. In consequence he talked to her a good deal about his private affairs and consequence he talked to her a good deal about his private affairs and she listened sympathetically and always put in a useful word of advice. she listened sympathetically and always put in a useful word of advice.

She had nothing to do, however, with his marriage. She did not like it. However, she accepted it and was invaluable in helping with the However, she accepted it and was invaluable in helping with the wedding arrangements, relieving Mrs Marle of a great deal of work. wedding arrangements, relieving Mrs Marle of a great deal of work. For a time after the marriage, Ruth was on slightly less confidential For a time after the marriage, Ruth was on slightly less confidential terms with her employer. She confided herself strictly to the office terms with her employer. She confided herself strictly to the office affairs. George left a good deal in her hands. affairs. George left a good deal in her hands.

Nevertheless such was her efficiency that Rosemary soon found that George's Miss Lessing was an invaluable aid in all sorts of ways. Miss George's Miss Lessing was an invaluable aid in all sorts of ways. Miss Lessing was always pleasant, smiling and polite. Lessing was always pleasant, smiling and polite.

George, Rosemary and Iris all called her Ruth and she often came to Elvaston Square to lunch. She was now twenty-nine and looked exactly Elvaston Square to lunch. She was now twenty-nine and looked exactly the same as she had looked at twenty-three. the same as she had looked at twenty-three.

Without an intimate word ever pa.s.sing between them, she was always perfectly aware of George's slightest emotional reactions. She knew perfectly aware of George's slightest emotional reactions. She knew when the first elation of his married life pa.s.sed into an ecstatic when the first elation of his married life pa.s.sed into an ecstatic content, she was aware when that content gave way to something else content, she was aware when that content gave way to something else that was not so easy to define. A certain inattention to detail shown by that was not so easy to define. A certain inattention to detail shown by him at this time was corrected by her own forethought. him at this time was corrected by her own forethought.

However distrait George might be, Ruth Lessing never seemed to be aware of it. He was grateful to her for that. aware of it. He was grateful to her for that.

It was on a November morning that he spoke to her of Victor Drake.

"I want you to do a rather unpleasant job for me, Ruth!"

She looked at him inquiringly. No need to say that certainly she would do it. That was understood. do it. That was understood.

"Every family's got a black sheep," said George.

She nodded comprehendingly.

"This is a cousin of my wife's - a thorough bad hat, I'm afraid. He's half ruined his mother - a fatuous sentimental soul who has sold out most of ruined his mother - a fatuous sentimental soul who has sold out most of what few shares she has on his behalf. He started by forging a cheque what few shares she has on his behalf. He started by forging a cheque at Oxford - they got that hushed up and since then he's been shipped at Oxford - they got that hushed up and since then he's been shipped about the world - never making good anywhere." about the world - never making good anywhere."

Ruth listened without much interest. She was familiar with the type. They grew oranges, started chicken farms, went as jackaroos to They grew oranges, started chicken farms, went as jackaroos to Australian stations, got jobs with meat-freezing concerns in New Australian stations, got jobs with meat-freezing concerns in New Zealand. Zealand.

They never made good, never stayed anywhere long, and invariably got through any money that had been invested on their behalf. They got through any money that had been invested on their behalf. They had never interested her much. had never interested her much.

She preferred success.

"He's turned up now in London and I find he's been worrying my wife. She hadn't set eyes on him since she was a schoolgirl, but he's a She hadn't set eyes on him since she was a schoolgirl, but he's a plausible sort of scoundrel and he's been writing to her for money, and plausible sort of scoundrel and he's been writing to her for money, and I'm not going to stand for that. I've made an appointment with him for I'm not going to stand for that. I've made an appointment with him for twelve o'clock this morning at his hotel. I want you to deal with it for twelve o'clock this morning at his hotel. I want you to deal with it for me. The fact is I don't want to get into contact with the fellow. I've me. The fact is I don't want to get into contact with the fellow. I've never met him and I never want to and I don't want Rosemary to meet never met him and I never want to and I don't want Rosemary to meet him. I think the whole thing can be kept absolutely businesslike if it's him. I think the whole thing can be kept absolutely businesslike if it's fixed up through a third party." fixed up through a third party."

"Yes, that is always a good plan. What is the arrangement to be?"

"A hundred pounds cash and a ticket to Buenos Aires. The money to be given him actually on board the boat." be given him actually on board the boat."

Ruth smiled.

"Quite so. You want to be sure he actually sails!"

"I see you understand."

"It's not an uncommon case," she said indifferently.

"No, plenty of that type about." He hesitated. "Are you sure you don't mind doing this?" mind doing this?"

"Of course not." She was a little amused. "I can a.s.sure you I am quite capable of dealing with the matter." capable of dealing with the matter."

"You're capable of anything."

"What about booking his pa.s.sage? What's his name, by the way?"

"Victor Drake. The ticket's here. I rang up the steamship company yesterday. It's the San Cristobal, sails from Tilbury tomorrow." yesterday. It's the San Cristobal, sails from Tilbury tomorrow."

Ruth took the ticket, glanced over it to make sure of its correctness and put it in her handbag. and put it in her handbag.

"That's settled. I'll see to it. Twelve o'clock. What address?"

"The Rupert, off Russell Square."

She made a note of it.

"Ruth, my dear, I don't know what I should do without you -" He put a hand on her shoulder affectionately, it was the first time he had ever hand on her shoulder affectionately, it was the first time he had ever done such a thing. "You're my right hand, my other self." done such a thing. "You're my right hand, my other self."

She flushed, pleased.

"I've never been able to say much - I've taken all you do for granted - but it's not really like that. You don't know how much I rely on you for but it's not really like that. You don't know how much I rely on you for everything -" he repeated: "everything. You're the kindest, dearest, everything -" he repeated: "everything. You're the kindest, dearest, most helpful girl in the world!" most helpful girl in the world!"

Ruth said, laughing to hide her pleasure and embarra.s.sment, "You'll spoil me saying such nice things." spoil me saying such nice things."

"Oh, but I mean them. You're part of the firm, Ruth. Life without you would be unthinkable." would be unthinkable."

She went out feeling a warm glow at his words. It was still with her when she arrived at the Rupert Hotel on her errand. when she arrived at the Rupert Hotel on her errand.

Ruth felt no embarra.s.sment at what lay before her. She was quite confident of her powers to deal with any situation. Hard-luck stories confident of her powers to deal with any situation. Hard-luck stories and people never appealed to her. She was prepared to take Victor and people never appealed to her. She was prepared to take Victor Drake as all in the day's work. Drake as all in the day's work.

He was very much as she had pictured him, though perhaps definitely more attractive. She made no mistake in her estimate of his character. more attractive. She made no mistake in her estimate of his character. There was not much good in Victor Drake. As cold-hearted and There was not much good in Victor Drake. As cold-hearted and calculating a personality as could exist, well masked behind an calculating a personality as could exist, well masked behind an agreeable devilry. What she had not allowed for was his power of agreeable devilry. What she had not allowed for was his power of reading other people's souls, and the practised ease with which he reading other people's souls, and the practised ease with which he could play on the emotions. Perhaps, too, she had underestimated her could play on the emotions. Perhaps, too, she had underestimated her own resistance to his charm. For he had charm. own resistance to his charm. For he had charm.

He greeted her with an air of delighted surprise.

"George's emissary? But how wonderful. What a surprise!"

In dry even tones, she set out George's terms. Victor agreed to them in the most amiable manner. the most amiable manner.

"A hundred pounds? Not bad at all. Poor old George. I'd have taken sixty - but don't tell him so! Conditions: - 'Do not worry lovely Cousin sixty - but don't tell him so! Conditions: - 'Do not worry lovely Cousin Rosemary - do not contaminate innocent Cousin Iris - do not Rosemary - do not contaminate innocent Cousin Iris - do not embarra.s.s worthy Cousin George.' All agreed to! Who is coming to see embarra.s.s worthy Cousin George.' All agreed to! Who is coming to see me off on the San Cristobal? You are, my dear Miss Lessing? me off on the San Cristobal? You are, my dear Miss Lessing?

Delightful."

He wrinkled up his nose, his dark eyes twinkled sympathetically. He had a lean brown face and there was a suggestion about him of a had a lean brown face and there was a suggestion about him of a Toreador - romantic conception! He was attractive to women and Toreador - romantic conception! He was attractive to women and knew it! knew it!

"You've been with Barton some time, haven't you, Miss Lessing?"

"Six years."

"And he wouldn't know what to do without you! Oh yes, I know all about it. And I know all about you, Miss Lessing." it. And I know all about you, Miss Lessing."

"How do you know?" asked Ruth sharply.

Victor grinned. "Rosemary told me."