Death in the Middle Watch by Leo Bruce Page A

happening. It is up to you to clear up the mystery, not to go running to the police of a foreign country. This is a British ship.”
    Carolus turned sharply away.
    But before he went to his cabin he said, “There’s one thing you’re overlooking. The woman’s husband is due to come on board today. What are you going to tell him?”
    Like Pontius Pilate, he did not wait for an answer.

Six
    T HE FIRST MAN C AROLUS sought in the morning was the Purser. He avoided Mr Gorringer taking his before-breakfast stroll on deck, did not go in to breakfast, and found the Purser in his cabin.
    â€œI don’t think Porteous and Scorer have the ghost of a chance of getting away with this,” he said. “But that will be their funeral. I want to know whether anyone came on board last night.”
    Mr Ratchett nodded. “I thought you were going to ask that,” he said. “Yes, quite unexpectedly at around one o’clock. A clerk from the agent’s office.”
    â€œName?” queried Carolus.
    â€œCosta Neves. We know him well. He comes on board as a matter of course, but I’ve never known him do so on the night we lay off in the Tagus. We’re usually alongside by nine o’clock in the morning and he comes on then.”
    â€œWhat brought him out to the ship?”
    â€œThe usual documents. But they could have been attended to this morning.”
    â€œHow did he come out?”
    â€œIn the agent’s launch.”
    â€œSo you lowered the gangplank?”
    â€œYes. Costa Neves is a little lame.”
    â€œWas anyone in the launch with him?”
    â€œOnly the two boatmen who are always with the launch. I know them both.”
    â€œSurely you could not identify them in the dark from on deck, Mr Ratchett?”
    â€œNear enough. I know the two, you see.”
    â€œYou mean that because you know the boatmen usually with the launch, you assumed that these were the two?”
    â€œI suppose that was it. But since Costa Neves said nothing, it was a pretty safe assumption.”
    â€œLeaving the possibility that the launch brought almost anyone out to the ship?”
    â€œWhy should it? I know Costa Neves. See him every trip.”
    â€œDoes he know any of the passengers?”
    â€œOh, I shouldn’t think so. He only speaks a little English and when he comes aboard he’s usually pretty busy. Why? You’re not suggesting he killed Mrs Darwin?”
    â€œNo. But he could have. Or someone he brought aboard with him.”
    â€œHe brought no one aboard. I watched him come up the gangplank. He and the two boatmen came alone in the launch. And for the whole time the launch was alongside there was a man at the top of the gangplank.”
    â€œWhich man?”
    â€œLeacock. He’s our most reliable deckhand.”
    â€œI’m not entirely satisfied with that. But let it pass for the moment. Who occupied the cabin next to Mrs Darwin?”
    â€œSir Charles and Lady Spittals.”
    â€œAnd opposite?”
    â€œMiss Berry.”
    â€œI intend to interview them. If they ask me questions I shall tell them the truth. I won’t be part of what I consider a conspiracy.”
    Yet a few minutes later, when Carolus met Mr Gorringer coming up from the dining room, he found himself—while not actually lying—at least not going out of his way to proclaim the truth.
    â€œI hear that our friend Mrs Darwin is not well this morning,” Mr Gorringer said. “I had hoped to escort her ashore to show her some of the sights of the capital of our oldest ally.”
    â€œPity. I’m afraid you’ll have to go alone. Unless you care to invite Miss Berry.”
    â€œMy dear Deene, far be it from me to appear to be in the least critical of one of our fellow-passengers, but I have noticed the lady you mention seeming somewhat eager in her approach to the male sex. I might find her an embarrassment.”
    â€œYes. You might.