Shell be all right, said Sophia.
She might say anything.
Dont worry, said Sophia. Shell play it the way the producer says. Fm the producer!
She went out after her mother, then wheeled back to say:
Heres Chief Inspector Taverner to see you, Father. You dont mind if Charles stays, do you?
I thought that a very faint air of bewilderment showed on Philip Leonides face. It well might! But his incurious habit served me in good stead. He murmured:
Oh certainlycertainly, in a rather vague voice.
Chief Inspector Taverner came in, solid, dependable, and with an air of businesslike promptitude that was somehow soothing.
Just a little unpleasantness, his manner seemed to say, and then we shall be out of the house for goodand nobody will be more pleased than I shall. We dont want to hang about, I can assure you
I dont know how he managed, without any words at all, but merely by drawing up a chair to the desk, to convey what he did, but it worked. I sat down unobtrusively a little way off.
Yes, Chief Inspector? said Philip.
Miss de Haviland said abruptly:
You dont want me, Chief Inspector?
Not just at the moment, Miss de Haviland. Later, if I might have a few words with you
Of course. I shall be upstairs.
She went out, shutting the door behind her.
Well, Chief Inspector? Philip repeated.
I know youre a very busy gentleman and I dont want to disturb you for long. But I may mention to you in confidence that our suspicions are confirmed. Your father did not die a natural death. His death was the result of an overdose of physostigminemore usually known as eserine.
Philip bowed his head. He showed no particular emotion.
I dont know whether that suggests anything to you? Taverner went on.
What should it suggest? My own view is that my father must have taken the poison by accident.
You really think so, Mr Leonides?
Yes, it seems to me perfectly possible. He was close on ninety, remember, and with very imperfect eyesight.
So he emptied the contents of his eyedrop bottle into an insulin bottle. Does that really seem to you a credible suggestion, Mr Leonides?
Philip did not reply. His face became even more impassive.
Taverner went on:
We have found the eyedrop bottle, emptyin the dustbin, with no fingerprints on it. That in itself is curious. In the normal way there should have been fingerprints. Certainly your fathers, possibly his wifes, or the valet
Philip Leonides looked up.
What about the valet? he said. What about Johnson?
You are suggesting Johnson as the possible criminal? He certainly had opportunity. But when we come to motive it is different. It was your fathers custom to pay him a bonus every yeareach year the bonus was increased. Your father made it clear to him that this was in lieu of any sum that he might otherwise have left him in his will. The bonus now, after seven years service, has reached a very considerable sum every year and is still rising. It was obviously to Johnsons interest that your father should live as long as possible. Moreover, they were on excellent terms, and Johnsons record of past service is unimpeachable he is a thoroughly skilled and faithful valet attendant. He paused. We do not suspect Johnson.
Philip replied tonelessly: I see.
Now, Mr Leonides, perhaps you will give me a detailed account of your own movements on the day of your fathers death?
Certainly, Chief Inspector. I was here, in this room, all that daywith the exception of meals, of course.
Did you see your father at all?
I said good morning to him after breakfast as was my custom.
Were you alone with him then?
Myerstepmother was in the room.
Did he seem quite as usual?
With a slight hint of irony, Philip replied:
He showed no foreknowledge that he was to be murdered that day.
Is your fathers portion of the house entirely separate from this?
Yes, the only access to it is through the door in the hall.
Is that door kept locked?
No.
Never?
I have never known it to be so.
Anyone could go freely between that part of the house and this?
Certainly. It was only separate from the point of view of domestic convenience.
How did you first hear of your fathers death?
My brother Roger, who occupies the west wing of the floor above, came rushing down to tell me that my father had had a sudden seizure. He had difficulty in breathing and seemed very ill.
What did you do?
I telephoned through to the doctor, which nobody seemed to have thought of doing. The doctor was outbut I left a message for him to come as soon as possible. I then went upstairs.
And then?
My father was clearly very ill. He died before the doctor came.
There was no emotion in Philips voice. It was a simple statement of fact.
Where was the rest of your family?
My wife was in London. She returned shortly afterwards. Sophia was also absent, I believe. The two younger ones, Eustace and Josephine, were at home.
I hope you wont misunderstand me, Mr Leonides, if I ask you exactly how your fathers death will affect your financial position.
I quite appreciate that you want to know all the facts. My father made us financially independent a great many years ago. My brother he made chairman and principal shareholder of Associated Cateringhis largest company, and put the management of it entirely in his hands. He made over [56]to me what he considered an equivalent sum actually I think it was a hundred and fifty thousand pounds in various bonds and securitiesso that I could use the capital as I chose. He also settled very generous amounts on my two sisters, who have since died.