Ne'er Do Well (13 page)

“Madame de Porphyry is not staying at The Savoy. She arrived there ten days ago; but when they saw who it was, they said they hadn't a room. She is Madame la Duchesse de Vairie, notorious even in France. The Duke won't divorce her, because he's a very strict Catholic. She's taken a service flat in — House. Keeps very irregular hours. No evidence yet that she ever drives a grey car. But that's being followed up. Involved two years ago in a very unsavoury case. The wife of one of her lovers committed suicide. A good many people thought that it wasn't suicide…

“Then I went back to my flat, had some dinner sent up, thought things over for a while and went to bed.

“At nine o'clock the next morning I took the Great West Road.

“Curfew Place is attractive. The house is not too big
–
I should say about this size. A pleasant, sheltered garden, bright with flowers. The rest is stabling and paddocks, all in the finest order you ever saw.

“George Selden received me
–
a man of few words. I think we all know the type
–
a steady, unemotional soldier, whom nothing will ever shake. Perfectly groomed; a well-worn country suit that had come out of Savile Row
–
a concession to Sunday, I guessed, and I was right; beautifully polished shoes.

“He took me into a pleasant morning-room.

“As we sat down
–

“‘Your room's all ready,' he said. ‘I hope you'll eat with me. Anything I can do, you've only to say the word.'

“‘I'm sure of that. I'd like to see my man and the lawyer's clerk. And then, if it's right by you, we could have a talk.'

“Selden opened the door and shouted, ‘
James
'.

“The butler appeared.

“‘Tell those two to come here. The Superintendent wants them.' Selden turned to me. ‘I'm going to see a mare. She's near her time. Tell James when you're ready for me. He'll ring the bell.'

“With that, he was gone.

“I couldn't help liking the man. Though he'd never mentioned his loss, I could see it had hit him hard. His fine, grey eyes were dull. Life seemed to have lost its savour. His stable-companion was dead.

“The lawyer's clerk had little enough to say.

“‘I've sealed his lordship's desk, sir. That's in the study, that is. There's only one drawer locked. I expect you've got the key. But I haven't touched anything. There's a safe in the office and quite a number of files. But they're all to do with the horses, and as Major Selden needs them, I let them be.'

“‘Quite right.'

“‘And Mr Fenton asked me to tell you, sir, that if you'd like to see him, I've only to ring him up.'

“‘Thank you. I'll let you know.'

“He left the room, and Welcome gave me his written report.

“There was no meat for me in this, but he hadn't wasted his time. He'd seen all the principal servants within and without. They were broken-hearted. All of them worshipped St Amant. Visitors mostly on Sundays. Luncheon and tea. Sometimes neighbours to dine. But only when St Amant was there. Major Selden ‘lived very quiet'. St Amant was often away for two or three nights
–
very often at Newmarket, where he stayed at The Jockey Club Rooms. Whenever he stayed in London, he used The Savoy. His body-servant, Bolton, went with him everywhere. When he heard the news, he wanted to rush to the Home: but Major Selden told him that, if he did, he'd have him put under arrest. ‘How d'you think I feel? But it's not our job.' Feeling among the lads was running high. ‘Them – nuns… Nice sort of nursing home… More like a slaughter-house…' They're counting on you to avenge his lordship's death.

“Welcome had little to add.

“‘I think you should see Bolton, sir. He'll hardly talk to me.'

“‘All right.'

“Then I sent him off to find James and ask him to ring the bell. (This hangs in a miniature belfry, built on to the back of the house. On a still day, you can hear it up on the gallops.) Five minutes later, Selden came tramping in.

‘This room all right, Superintendent?'

“‘As long as no one can hear.'

“‘I'll see to that.' He let out a bellow. ‘
James
.'

“The butler appeared.

“‘Send Bolton here and bring us something to drink.'

“Beer was served
–
in two of the finest tankards I've ever seen. William the Third, I should say. And Selden lighted a pipe. Then Bolton appeared.

“‘Stand to the door, Bolton. And knock if anyone comes.'

“‘Very good, sir.'

“As the door closed
–

“‘Body-servant,' said Selden. ‘Been with Jo since the war. Out for blood, poor fellow. I feel the same.'

“‘I don't blame you,' I said. ‘I feel that way myself. And now tell me this, Major Selden. Did anyone know Lord St Amant better than you?'

“‘Nobody knew him as well. I came to live with him in '46. Good enough for me. From that day to this, I've never slept out of my bed.'

“‘When did you meet him first?'

“‘Pulled his ears at Eton in '32.'

“‘And after that?'

“‘Hunting with the Cottesmore. His people lived in the country. I dined at his home once or twice. Really got to know him during the war. Both on the same special duty in 1942. We mucked in together well. I think we fixed things up in '44. DV, of course. He'd got his eye on this place. And then it came off.'

“‘With everyone else, I suppose, you'd believed him dead.'

“‘I went to the Memorial Service.'

“‘Did you indeed? And then he rose from the dead?'

“‘You've said it, Superintendent. He'd never talk about it. I think he felt he was to blame for not getting word through. Never dreamed he hadn't been posted as missing. But, if he had, what could he do? He was on his back for three months in the attic of a French farm. Blown up, you know. When he got to the Pyrenees, the snow was down. He got over at last, and the Spaniards picked him up. He broke out of jail and made his way back into France. Then he swam the Bidassoa
–
he'd had enough of the hills. And then he made Portugal. He never told me all that
–
I got it from our MA after the war.'

“‘What a wonderful show. Pity he took it like that.'

“Selden shook his head and relighted his pipe.

“‘Well, now let's come to this business down at the Home. Poison's been hinted at. That has now been proved. And it wasn't an accident. Had he any enemies?'

“‘Looks as though he had one: it's news to me. You couldn't help liking Jo.'

“‘Women?'

“‘All they wanted to do was to put their arms round his neck. But he never went far with them. He'd never have got tied up. Same as me, you know
–
a bachelor born and bred.'

“‘Did he ever go to Paris?'

“‘From time to time.
Grand Prix
, you know.'

“‘Did he ever mention a Madame de Porphyry?'

“‘Not to me.'

“‘
Alias La Duchesse de Vairie
.'

“‘That's better. She came here once
–
I forget who brought her along. Made a dead set at Jo, for all to see. Takes a lot to embarrass me, but…Talked French to him all the time, and all the rest of us English. He answered in English, of course, but it didn't do any good. When we sat down to luncheon, Jo put her up my end, though she should have been on his right. By God, was she wild? But he couldn't do anything else. At least he saved the party, more or less.'

“‘No cause to love him, then?'

“Selden looked at me.

“‘Don't tell me she's taken the veil?'

“‘Good God, no,' said I. ‘But she came to the Home last Sunday and blundered into his room.'

“‘The devil she did. D'you think…'

“I shrugged my shoulders.

“‘She's down on my list,' I said. ‘No more than that. Tell me this, Major Selden. Does the name of Berryman mean anything to you?'

“‘Old ‘Topsy' Berryman's brat. He's got a nuisance value, but nothing more. Not guts enough to be an enemy.'

“‘A nuisance value. What do you mean by that?'

“‘Well, he's known Jo all his life, because their fathers were friends: but he's fouled his nest for years and nobody speaks to the man: but if he thinks it's safe, he'll speak to you. Well, that's not done, you know. He came up to Jack Benham once: Jack told him then and there that if ever he did it again, he'd give him in charge. But Jo was always so gentle. And so he presumed. Give you a case in point. Jo had been up for the day
–
to London, I mean. Halfway through dinner that evening he starts to laugh. ‘I forgot to tell you, George, I had a show-down today.' ‘Who with?' I said. ‘Berryman.' ‘What's he done now?' said I. ‘I found him waiting at White's. He'd told the porter that he was to be my guest.' ‘Good God,' said I. ‘I hope you warned him off for good and all.' ‘I said I was sorry I couldn't ask him to lunch. I may say he was simply filthy: unshaved, no collar on and looked as if he'd slept in his clothes. Because you're a snob, says he. No, said I. But because, if I did, I should certainly have to resign. Then I called a servant and told him to show him out.' What d'you think of that, Superintendent?'

“‘Words fail me,' said I. ‘But that's beside the point. Berryman was also a patient down at the Home. Next door but one.'

“‘God give me strength.'

“‘He's down on the list, too. A bit higher up now.'

“‘Poison,' said Selden. ‘He might have the guts for that. But he must have thought himself safe.' He shook his head. ‘I'd put the lady first.'

“‘Major Selden, I want you to think. You said ‘No enemies'
–
and I have produced to you two. Potential ones, of course. Can't you think of anyone else?'

“‘Sorry, Superintendent. My mind was running on racing. Easy enough to make an enemy there. But Jo never did. And now let me think.'

“We sat in silence for, I'd say, two minutes at least.

“Then Selden shook his head.

“‘God forgive me,' he said, ‘I can't think of anyone else.'

“‘No dismissed servant?'

“‘Oh, no.'

“‘D'you think he was open with you?'

“‘That's my belief.'

“‘Ever seen him depressed?'

“‘Never. He didn't know what it meant.'

“‘Knocks?'

“‘Sometimes. He always took 'em with a smile. There was no one like him, Superintendent. Model yourself on Jo, and you couldn't go wrong.'

“I took the keys from my pocket.

“‘Can you identify these?'

“Selden picked them up. There were only six.

“‘Writing-table, safe
–
I've got a duplicate
–
dispatch-case, latch-key
–
not that he needed that: there was always somebody up. Now what's that? Oh, I know. Roll-top table in the office: but that is never locked. I don't know that one, Superintendent.'

“He was holding up the biggest of all.

“‘I think,' I said, ‘that that's the key of a wall-safe.' I looked at the makers' name. ‘Yes, they make safes. I think I'm probably right.'

“Selden stared.

“‘I never knew he'd got one.'

“‘They're very small safes, you know. All right for jewellery.'

“‘He'd very little of that, and he never locked it up.'

“‘It's probably here somewhere
–
behind a picture, perhaps.'

“‘We'll have a look. No, wait a minute.
Bolton
.'

“The valet entered the room.

“‘Tell James to come here.'

“When the butler arrived
–

“The Superintendent says he thinks there's a wall-safe here.'

“‘A wall-safe, sir?'

“I took up the running.

“‘You may not have seen one, James. All that shows is a little door in the wall. About a foot square. They're often behind a picture.'

“‘I've never seen one here, sir. And once a year we have all the pictures down.'

 “‘All right,' said Selden.

“The butler withdrew.

“‘We might try Bolton,' I said.

“‘Why not?
Bolton
.'

“The valet re-entered the room.

“‘D'you know of a wall-safe here?'

“The valet hesitated. Then
–

“‘I don't think his lordship would like
–
'

“Selden burst out.

“‘Don't be a fool. The Superintendent's trying to get at the truth. He's got to see everything. Don't you want this bloody murderer put to death?'

“The valet crumpled.

“‘I'm sorry, sir. But I don't think anyone knew it, except his lordship and me.'

“‘Where is it, Bolton?' I said.

“‘In his lordship's bedroom, sir.'

“‘Come on,' said Selden, rising.

“The valet led us upstairs to a very pleasant chamber upon the first floor. Then he opened a built-in wardrobe
–
a hanging wardrobe, this. It was full of suits. He took out three of the hangers and pushed the rest to one side.

“‘You'll see it there in the wall, sir.'

“Selden put in his head and looked to the left.

“‘That'll be it,' he said. ‘All right, Bolton. You go and stand to the door.'

“The valet withdrew.

“I tried the key and the wall-safe opened at once.

“There was very little inside. I took the contents out and put them in Selden's hands. A fine, gold pocket-watch, attached to a cable chain. A magnificent diamond ring. A foolscap envelope, sealed. And that was all.