Envious Casca (11 page)

"No," she said. "There is always unpleasantness in this house. Mr. Herriard was very disagreeable."

The Inspector coughed. "You've lived here for some time, haven't you, madam?"

"Two years," she said, without a change in her expression.

"Then I may take it that you know most of the ins and outs of the place, as one might say?"

"I never interfered," said Maud.

"No, madam, I'm sure… "Would you say that there had been any serious trouble between the deceased and any of his guests?"

"No. There is usually trouble when my husband's nephew and niece visit Lexham. They do not try to please their uncle. The Herriards are like that."

"Quarrelsome, do you mean?"

"Yes. Mr. Herriard liked it."

"He liked having his relations quarrel with him?" asked the Inspector incredulously.

"I don't think he minded. He never seemed to like people who were civil to him. He was very rude himself, very. He didn't mean anything by it."

"Would you say that there had been serious trouble over this play which Miss Herriard wanted her uncle to spend money on?"

"Oh no!" Maud said calmly. "He didn't care about the play, that's all. I didn't either."

"Did he refuse to put up any money?"

"I expect so. I daresay he would have in the end, however. He was very fond of Paula. It was a stupid moment for her to have chosen, that's all."

"Why was it a stupid moment, madam?"

Her eyes slowly turned towards him again. "Mr. Herriard was annoyed about the party."

"In what way?"

"He didn't want a party."

"But if he didn't want it, why did he have it?"

"It was my husband's doing. He is not at all like his brother. He thought it would be a good thing. But Mr. Herriard very much disliked Miss Dean, and that upset him."

The Inspector pricked up his ears. "He disliked Miss Dean? He didn't want his nephew to marry her?"

"No. But I don't suppose he will. I always thought he had made a mistake. I expect he stuck to it to annoy his uncle."

This seemed fantastic to the Inspector. "Stuck to it to annoy his uncle?"

"He likes annoying people," said Maud.

This matter-of-fact opinion, stated with a simplicity that could not but carry weight, confused the Inspector's mind. He began to perceive that he had to deal with extraordinary people, and it was with misgiving that he presently confronted Mathilda Clare.

His first thought was that she was no beauty, his second that she had very shrewd eyes. Her indefinable air of expensive chic slightly alarmed him, but he found her perfectly easy to get on with, if not very helpful.

She corroborated Maud's testimony. She had never yet, she told him, stayed at Lexham Manor without finding herself pitchforked into the middle of a family quarrel. "Though I'm bound to say," she admitted, "that things weren't usually as sultry as they have been this Christmas. That was Joseph Herriard's fault. He meant it all for the best, but he's one of those tactless creatures who spend their whole lives putting their feet into it. This time he's surpassed himself, for not content with getting Miss Dean into the home he allowed Miss Herriard to bring Mr. Roydon here."

"I understand that Mr. Roydon came to get Mr. Herriard to finance a play of his?"

"That was the general idea," admitted Mathilda. "But Mr. Herriard thought not."

"Very upsetting for Mr. Roydon," said the Inspector invitingly.

"Not at all. He is now determined to let the play stand on its merits."

"Oh! And Miss Herriard?"

"Miss Herriard," responded Mathilda coolly, "treated the assembled company to a dramatic scene - she's an actress, good in emotional roles. I wasn't present, but I'm told that she and Mr. Herriard had a really splendid quarrel, and enjoyed themselves hugely."

"Seems a funny way to enjoy yourself, miss."

"It would seem funny to you or to me, Inspector, but not, believe me, to a Herriard."

He shook his head dubiously, and asked, without much hope, where she had been between seven-thirty and dinner-time.

"Changing in my room," she replied. Joseph Herriard will bear me out. His dressing-room communicates with my bathroom, and we not only went upstairs together, but he chat - talked to me all the time I was changing. "What's more, we came downstairs together. That's my alibi, Inspector."

He thanked her gravely, refusing to be drawn, and said that he would like to interview the servants.

Just ring the bell," said Mathilda, rising, and walking to the door. "You will then be able to start on the butler."

She rejoined her fellow-guests in the drawing-room. "Well?" said Stephen.

"I did what I could for you," she replied. "He's now about to pump Sturry."

"That ought to finish us," he said grimly. "Sturry was listening outside the door when the storm broke."

Chapter Seven

The Inspector, who had been confronted with condescension in Roydon, hostility in Paula, now encountered, as Sturry majestically advanced into the morning-room, a lofty disdain which would have caused a more sensitive soul to shrink.

"You rang, Inspector?" said Sturry, conveying a suggestion of astonishment.

The Inspector felt in a vague way that he had committed a solecism, but he was strong in the consciousness of his duty, and he replied firmly: "Yes, I rang. I want to ask you a few questions. Is your name Albert Sturry?"

"My name, Inspector, is Albert Reginald Sturry."

The Inspector repressed an impulse to beg his pardon, and wrote the name in his notebook. "You are employed here as butler?"

"I have served Mr. Herriard in that capacity for four years and seven months," replied Sturry. "Previous to that, I was with the late Sir Barnabas Lancing, of Lancing Towers, and Upper Eaton Place."

The Inspector made a note of this, but wisely thrust Sir Barnabas into the background. He said: "Now, what do you know about this business?"

The arctic light in Sturry's eye plainly informed him that if he imagined he could address a respectable butler in this fashion he would find himself much mistaken. "I regret that I am unable to assist you," said Sturry. "It being no part of my duties to pry into the affairs of my employers."

The Inspector perceived that he had taken a false step. He said: "Naturally not, but a man in your position is bound to know the ins and outs of a house."

Sturry acknowledged this tribute by a slight bow, and waited.

"By all accounts the deceased was a difficult man to get on with, eh?"

"I experienced no difficulty, Inspector. Mr. Herriard had his idiosyncrasies, no doubt. Latterly his temper became impaired by rheumatic complaints, as was understandable."

"Made him quarrelsome?"

"I would not go so far as to ascribe the distressing quarrels which have taken place under this roof wholly to Mr. Herriard's lumbago," said Sturry.

It became clear to the Inspector that the butler was big with news. It was equally clear that while he had a human desire to impart his news, he was mindful of what was due to his dignity, and must be handled with tact and respect. "Ah!" the Inspector said, nodding. "And I daresay you knew him as well as anyone. Stands to reason, being in your position, and with him over four years."

"I believe Mr. Herriard had no reason to be dissatisfied with me," conceded Sturry, unbending a little. "It has been my endeavour to fulfil my functions to the best of my ability, whatever the behaviour of certain of Mr. Herriard's guests."

"Must have been difficult for you, I daresay."

"Not so much difficult as distasteful," said Sturry, putting him in his place again. "Accustomed as I have been for thirty-five years to serving in the best families - for I commenced as under-footman to the late Earl of Belford, when I was hardly more than a Lad - there have been Incidents at Lexham Manor which I could only deplore."

The Inspector made a tut-tutting noise, and tried to look sympathetic.

"I need scarcely say," added Sturry, "that I shall be giving notice at the earliest opportunity."

"You know your own business best, but the house is likely to be kept on, isn't it? There's bound to be an heir."

"I should not care," said Sturry, with a quiver of disgust, "to demean myself by remaining in any house where a murder had been committed. It is not what I am accustomed to. It is impossible to imagine such an occurrence taking place under the late Earl's roof, or, indeed (though the baronetcy was of quite recent creation) under the roof of the late Sir Barnabas." He drew in his breath through his teeth. "Nor, I may add, would it suit me to take a post either in Mr. Joseph Herriard's household, or in Mr. Stephen Herriard's."

"Oh?" said the Inspector, deeply interested, and trying not to show it. "Not your money, eh?"

This vulgarity brought a look of pain to Sturry's countenance, but being by this time launched on the cumulative tide of his disclosures, he decided to overlook it. "Mr. Joseph Herriard is a very well-meaning gentleman," he said, "but the Peculiar Circumstances of his life have made him, I regret to say, forgetful of his dignity. He is Familiar with the Staff."

The Inspector nodded feelingly. "I know what you mean. What about the young one? Cross-grained looking chap, I thought."

"Mr. Stephen Herriard," said Sturry, "is not a gentleman with whom I could ever contemplate taking service. Mr. Stephen's temper is quite as violent as his late uncle's, and although I would not wish to imply that he is not Quite the Gentleman, he is careless of appearances to a degree which I could not bring myself to overlook. He has, moreover, become engaged to a young lady who will not, in my opinion, Do for Lexham Manor." He paused, fixing the Inspector with a basilisk eye. "I could not, in any case, reconcile it with my conscience to serve any gentleman who had been on such inimical terms with the late Mr. Herriard," he said.

Here it comes at last! thought the Inspector. "I'd heard that they quarrelled a good bit," he said. "Bad, was it?"

Sturry closed his eyes for an expressive moment. "At times, Inspector, it has been what I should call Shocking, both Mr. Stephen and Mr. Herriard raising their voices in a manner very unbecoming to their stations, and not caring who might be within hearing. Indeed, upon one occasion Mr. Stephen had Words with his uncle in front of the Tweeny."

The enormity of this did not, perhaps, impress the Inspector as forcibly as it was meant to, but he looked shocked, and said he wondered why Stephen came to Lexham so often.

"If you were to ask me, Inspector," said Sturry, "I should say that both Mr. Stephen and Miss Paula came for what they could get out of the late Mr. Herriard."

"Is Stephen Herriard the heir?"

"That, Inspector, I could not take it upon myself to say, not being in the late Mr. Herriard's confidence. It is generally believed in the Hall that he is, Mr. Herriard having had an unaccountable fondness for him. But there has been a good deal of unpleasantness lately over Mr. Stephen's Unfortunate Entanglement, Mr. Herriard having taken exception to Miss Dean in a way one cannot wonder at. There was Quite a Scene between them after lunch."

"About Miss Dean?"

"I could not say, I am sure," said Sturry primly. "But when I was about to enter the drawing-room this evening with the cocktail-tray, I heard Mr. Herriard shout at Mr. Stephen that he was quite as bad as his sister, and that it was the last time either of them should come to Lexham'

"Is that so?" said the Inspector, very much on the alert. "He was quarrelling with Miss Herriard too, was he?"

"Mr. Herriard was in general very indulgent with Miss Paula," said Sturry. "Though I have reason to believe that he looked with disfavour upon her connection with the stage. But Miss Paula most regrettably brought down with her to spend Christmas a Person of the name of Roydon."

The Inspector knew what this method of referring to Roydon implied, and was inclined to sympathise with Sturry. "He didn't like Roydon?"

"I gathered, Inspector," said Sturry grandly, "that he considered Miss Paula's friendship with the young man Unsuitable."

"I could see he wasn't out of the top-drawer."

"Mr. Roydon," said Sturry, with impressive reserve, "is a very estimable young man, I am sure, but he is Out of Place in an establishment where eight indoor servants are employed."

The Inspector's sympathy veered momentarily towards Roydon. "I understand he wanted the deceased to put up some money for a play, or something?"

"That, Inspector, was Miss Paula's object in bringing him to Lexham. Two thousand pounds was the figure I heard her name to Mr. Herriard."

"That's a lot of money," said the Inspector.

"It would seem so to some, no doubt," said Sturry, in an odiously patronising way. "Miss Paula referred to it as Paltry."

"I take it that Mr. Herriard refused to let her have it?"

"Mr. Herriard, Inspector, said that Miss Paula should have none of his money to waste on Mr. Roydon. To which Miss Paula replied that when he was dead she would spend every penny he left her on Immoral Plays."

The Inspector was shocked. "That's a nice way to talk!" he exclaimed.

"Miss Paula," said Sturry forbearingly, "is not one to Mince Matters."

"What did Mr. Herriard have to say to that?"

"Mr. Herriard said that she had better not count her chickens before they were hatched, since he would possibly be Making a Few Changes."

"Oh, he spoke of changing his will, did he? How did the young lady take that?"

"Being, as one might say, in a Passion, Miss Paula said that she did not care, and did not want Mr. Herriard's money. Mr. Herriard then said that he thought that that was just what she did want, two thousand pounds of it." He paused for his final effect. "'And ready to murder me to get it!" Mr. Herriard said."

"He actually used those words?" demanded the Inspector.

"Those were his very words," replied Sturry solemnly, "I heard him with my own ears, being, as I have informed you, Upon the Point of bringing in the cocktails."

He fixed the Inspector with a glassy stare as he spoke. The Inspector, reading the message thus haughtily conveyed to him, quite understood that the butler had stood with his ear to the door during this painful altercation, and had no intention of admitting it. He nodded his comprehension, and asked: "Was it then that Mr. Herriard said that Mr. Stephen was as bad as his sister?"

"Immediately consequent upon Mr. Stephen's refusing to support his sister," said Sturry.

"Oh, he didn't support her?" said the Inspector, like a terrier with its nose to a rat-hole.

"Somewhat to my surprise, Inspector, no," Sturry replied. "Mr. Herriard, who was by that time in Quite a Taking, then turned on Mr. Stephen, if I may be permitted to use the expression."

"What happened next?"

"I could not say," answered Sturry, with a return to his cold reserve. "Following my entrance into the drawingroom, Mr. Stephen left it."

"And Mr. Herriard had told him that he wouldn't have him here any more?"

"That was what Mr. Herriard said."

"Had he said that before at any time?"

"Never, Inspector, to my knowledge. Quite remarkable it was, the way he put up with Mr. Stephen. It has been, I may say, a Wonder to us in the Hall."

The Inspector looked at him for a reflective moment. "Where were you between the time the deceased went upstairs and the time he was discovered dead in his room?"

"I was occupied about my Duties," replied Sturry, "between the dining-room and My Pantry."

"Did you see any of the guests during that period?"

"No, Inspector, but I have reason to believe that Mr. Herriard's valet and the second-housemaid can give you some information on this point."

"Well, you can send them in," said the Inspector. "I'll see the valet first. Has he been here long?"

"Only a matter of a few months," Sturry replied. "It was nott customary for the late Mr. Herriard's personal servants to remain long in his employment."

"Difficult master?"

"Mr. Herriard was very particular, and not, I regret to say, above throwing his shoes, or, upon occasion, even weightier articles at his valet, when his rheumatic complaints troubled him. Modern servants, as no doubt you are aware, do not Hold with that sort of thing."