reasons, Mrs. Morgan,â said Cromwell. âCould you give me the names of the maids you engaged ⦠names and addresses if you donât mind?â
Mrs. Morgan looked extremely nettled. Her lips tightened and she seemed ready to refuse. Then she apparently thought better of it.
âI have them in my desk. Please excuse me.â
She strode from the room without another word.
Morgan took the opportunity to express his feelings about the inquiry.
âA police inquiry here, sir, with the mistress absent is a little embarrassing. How will we explain it to Mrs. Havenith? She will be very upset, Iâm sure.â
Cromwell answered him with emphatic patience.
âThere is nothing exceptional in this. We only wish to know, in view of the murder of the man next door, if anybody saw anything unusual recently happening.â
Morgan dried up as his wife entered, carrying in her hand a small notebook. He lamely tried to pacify his wife.
âThe Superintendent is making these inquiries purely to find out if anyone in
The Limes
saw something unusual lately, in view of the crime committed next door, Beulah.â
She gave him a disgusted look.
âI was well aware of that. Here are the names and addresses. Two of the maids live locally, I know; the others at a distance. You had better consult the agency if you need their addresses. Morgan apparently forgot to obtain them. It is immaterial. The agency will have them.â
Morgan, who had received the implied rebuke like a blow in the face, looked very relieved.
âWho are the agents, please?â
âThe Binder Domestic Agency, 43a Well Lane, BondStreet, London. Mr. Binder himself attends to our requirements. Will that be all?â
âWe would now like to see the rooms from which the flat in question is visible.â
âVery well.â¦â
She turned to Morgan and Cairncross.
âThere is no sense in all of us going. Will you two please remain here until we return?â
Cairncross and Morgan looked at each other and Cairncross shrugged his shoulders. Morgan apparently didnât even dare do that.
âYouâll find us somewhere about the place,â said Cairncross, as a parting gesture of independence.
Mrs. Morgan led the way up the broad staircase, lined with the striking portraits of anonymous gentility, bought at auction sales. Having disposed of the two men whom she seemed to regard as underlings she grew more genial.
âAll the rooms on the front of the house have a view across to the
Orchard Court
flats. I can assure you that the occupants of those rooms saw nothing sinister going on last night.â
âDid you, at any time, see or hear if the occupant of the end flat on the second floor seemed to be keeping this place under observation?â
Mrs. Morgan halted in her stride.
âCertainly not Why should anyone do that? I can imagine them taking a casual look through the window at us, but to conduct a persistent observation sounds very unpleasant.â¦â
âYou must be aware, Mrs. Morgan, that this would be a good place to rob.â
âThat is obvious. Mrs. Havenith is well known as a collector of very valuable jewellery and does not seem to mind the press or periodicals making the fact known. Who am Ito interfere in the matter? But to attempt to steal her valuables ⦠that is another matter. This house is as safe as a bank. Burglar alarms absolutely up-to-date, a very modern safe, Cairncross continually on the prowl and maintaining a routine check on all that goes on. A burglar would have a very warm reception. Here we are. This is the mistressâs suite.â
She led them in. The suite consisted of a bedroom, a bathroom, and a boudoir. All of them sumptuous. The bedroom was furnished in light Adam style, with a thick Aubusson carpet, but the whole was spoiled by a huge bed, said to have been occupied by royalty, and hence insisted upon by Mrs. Havenith. The boudoir was
Mrs. Morgan looked extremely nettled. Her lips tightened and she seemed ready to refuse. Then she apparently thought better of it.
âI have them in my desk. Please excuse me.â
She strode from the room without another word.
Morgan took the opportunity to express his feelings about the inquiry.
âA police inquiry here, sir, with the mistress absent is a little embarrassing. How will we explain it to Mrs. Havenith? She will be very upset, Iâm sure.â
Cromwell answered him with emphatic patience.
âThere is nothing exceptional in this. We only wish to know, in view of the murder of the man next door, if anybody saw anything unusual recently happening.â
Morgan dried up as his wife entered, carrying in her hand a small notebook. He lamely tried to pacify his wife.
âThe Superintendent is making these inquiries purely to find out if anyone in
The Limes
saw something unusual lately, in view of the crime committed next door, Beulah.â
She gave him a disgusted look.
âI was well aware of that. Here are the names and addresses. Two of the maids live locally, I know; the others at a distance. You had better consult the agency if you need their addresses. Morgan apparently forgot to obtain them. It is immaterial. The agency will have them.â
Morgan, who had received the implied rebuke like a blow in the face, looked very relieved.
âWho are the agents, please?â
âThe Binder Domestic Agency, 43a Well Lane, BondStreet, London. Mr. Binder himself attends to our requirements. Will that be all?â
âWe would now like to see the rooms from which the flat in question is visible.â
âVery well.â¦â
She turned to Morgan and Cairncross.
âThere is no sense in all of us going. Will you two please remain here until we return?â
Cairncross and Morgan looked at each other and Cairncross shrugged his shoulders. Morgan apparently didnât even dare do that.
âYouâll find us somewhere about the place,â said Cairncross, as a parting gesture of independence.
Mrs. Morgan led the way up the broad staircase, lined with the striking portraits of anonymous gentility, bought at auction sales. Having disposed of the two men whom she seemed to regard as underlings she grew more genial.
âAll the rooms on the front of the house have a view across to the
Orchard Court
flats. I can assure you that the occupants of those rooms saw nothing sinister going on last night.â
âDid you, at any time, see or hear if the occupant of the end flat on the second floor seemed to be keeping this place under observation?â
Mrs. Morgan halted in her stride.
âCertainly not Why should anyone do that? I can imagine them taking a casual look through the window at us, but to conduct a persistent observation sounds very unpleasant.â¦â
âYou must be aware, Mrs. Morgan, that this would be a good place to rob.â
âThat is obvious. Mrs. Havenith is well known as a collector of very valuable jewellery and does not seem to mind the press or periodicals making the fact known. Who am Ito interfere in the matter? But to attempt to steal her valuables ⦠that is another matter. This house is as safe as a bank. Burglar alarms absolutely up-to-date, a very modern safe, Cairncross continually on the prowl and maintaining a routine check on all that goes on. A burglar would have a very warm reception. Here we are. This is the mistressâs suite.â
She led them in. The suite consisted of a bedroom, a bathroom, and a boudoir. All of them sumptuous. The bedroom was furnished in light Adam style, with a thick Aubusson carpet, but the whole was spoiled by a huge bed, said to have been occupied by royalty, and hence insisted upon by Mrs. Havenith. The boudoir was
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