She made a long pause.
Father, she said slowly, is almost too well controlled. You never know what hes thinking. He never shows any emotion at all. Its probably a kind of unconscious self-defence against mothers absolute orgies of emotion, but sometimesit worries me a little.
My dear child, I said, youre working yourself up unnecessarily. What it comes to in the end is that everybody, perhaps, is capable of murder.
I suppose thats true. Even me.
Not you!
Oh yes, Charles, you cant make me an exception. I suppose I could murder someone She was silent a moment or two, then added, But if so, it would have to be for something really worth while[50]!
I laughed then. I couldnt help it. And Sophia smiled.
Perhaps Im a fool, she said, but weve got to find out the truth about grandfathers death. Weve got to. If only it was Brenda
I felt suddenly rather sorry for Brenda Leonides.
Chapter 5
Along the path towards us came a tall figure walking briskly. It had on a battered old felt hat, a shapeless skirt, and a rather cumbersome jersey.
Aunt Edith, said Sophia.
The figure paused once or twice, stooping to the flower borders, then it advanced upon us. I rose to my feet.
This is Charles Hayward, Aunt Edith. My aunt, Miss de Haviland.
Edith de Haviland was a woman of about seventy. She had a mass of untidy grey hair, a weather-beaten face and a shrewd and piercing glance.
How dye do? she said. Ive heard about you. Back from the East. Hows your father?
Rather surprised, I said he was very well.
Knew him when he was a boy, said Miss de Haviland. Knew his mother very well. You look rather like her. Have you come to help usor the other thing?
I hope to help, I said rather uncomfortably.
She nodded.
We could do with some help. Place swarming with policemen. Pop out at you all over the place. Dont like some of the types. A boy whos been to a decent school oughtnt to go into the police. Saw Moyra Kinouls boy the other day holding up the traffic at Marble Arch. Makes you feel you dont know where you are!
She turned to Sophia.
Nannies asking for you, Sophia. Fish.
Bother[51], said Sophia. Ill go and telephone about it.
She walked briskly towards the house. Miss de Haviland turned and walked slowly in the same directon. I fell into step beside her.
Dont know what wed all do without nannies, said Miss de Haviland. Nearly everybodys got an old nannie. They come back and wash and iron and cook and do housework. Faithful. Chose this one myselfyears ago.
She stopped and pulled viciously at an entangling twining bit of green.
Hateful stuffbindweed! Worst weed there is! Choking, entanglingand you cant get at it properly, runs along underground.
With her heel she ground the handful of greenstuff viciously underfoot.
This is a bad business, Charles Hayward, she said. She was looking towards the house. What do the police think about it? Suppose I mustnt ask you that. Seems odd to think of Aristide being poisoned. For that matter it seems odd to think of him being dead. I never liked himnever! But I cant get used to the idea of his being dead Makes the house seem soempty.
This is a bad business, Charles Hayward, she said. She was looking towards the house. What do the police think about it? Suppose I mustnt ask you that. Seems odd to think of Aristide being poisoned. For that matter it seems odd to think of him being dead. I never liked himnever! But I cant get used to the idea of his being dead Makes the house seem soempty.
I said nothing. For all her curt way of speech, Edith de Haviland seemed in a reminiscent mood.
Was thinking this morningIve lived here a long time. Over forty years. Came here when my sister died. He asked me to. Seven childrenand the youngest only a year old Couldnt leave em to be brought up by their father, could I? An impossible marriage, of course. I always felt Marcia must have beenwellbewitched. He gave me a free handI will say that. Nurses, governesses, school. And proper wholesome nursery foodnot those queer spiced rice dishes he used to eat.
And youve been here ever since? I murmured.
Yes. Queer in a way I could have left, I suppose, when the children grew up and married I suppose, really, Id got interested in the garden. And then there was Philip. If a man marries an actress he cant expect to have any home life. Dont know why actresses have children. As soon as a babys born they rush off and play in Repertory in Edinburgh or somewhere as remote as possible. Philip did the sensible thingmoved in here with his books.
What does Philip Leonides do?
Writes books. Cant think why. Nobody wants to read them. All about obscure historical details. Youve never even heard of them, have you?
I admitted it.
Too much money, thats what hes had, said Miss de Haviland. Most people have to stop being cranks and earn a living.
Dont his books pay?
Of course not. Hes supposed to be a great authority on certain periods and all that. But he doesnt have to make his books payAristide settled something like a hundred thousand poundssomething quite fantasticon him! To avoid death duties[52]! Aristide made them all financially independent. Roger runs Associated CateringSophia has a very handsome allowance. The childrens money is in trust for them.