J. Turner – Below the Clock (страница 11)
‘Oh, yes? And what would you have suggested?’ Watson sat forward tensely, wondering whether Petrie would give away a clue to his thoughts. The solicitor scratched his forehead before replying:
‘My French is very elementary. Still, I seem to remember someone writing:
‘I can see no possible reason why Mrs Reardon should write about one always returning to one’s first love. If you think it at all remarkable that I should have been presented with a photograph quite recently may I remind you that I was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the lady’s husband? Apart from that your acuteness dazzles me. I don’t know how you work these things out.’ Watson was too heavily sarcastic and it displeased him to see that Petrie was smiling as though appreciating the rebuff.
‘I had recalled, of course,’ said Petrie, ‘that you were Reardon’s P.P.S. But I am incredibly dense. It had not occurred to me that that was why you kept his wife’s photograph in your bedroom. I didn’t appreciate that it was part of your duties. I will never be able to understand the complexities of politics.’ He shook his head almost mournfully and Watson cursed silently. This little man was not quite as harmless as one assumed.
‘From the colour of my necktie,’ he sneered again, ‘I suppose you deduce that I am in love with the lady?’
‘Not exactly,’ replied Amos casually, ‘I imagined that from your former silence and your present anger.’
The calmness of the judgment made it more devastating. It seemed to Watson that those few words encompassed all he dreaded. They stripped him of his anger and his sarcasm. He was unmanned. Now he stared at the curious person whose suspicions he had aroused and whose suspicions had travelled so far.
‘Had you forgotten those photographs, Mr Watson, when you asked me to search your flat?’
‘Not at all. It never occurred to me that they, or she, had anything to do with the matter. Nor does it now. Even assuming that all your deductions are right I don’t see how the photos affect the issue.’
‘No? Then you don’t recognise that even ladies are at times associated with such crimes as murder?’
‘Perhaps, in some cases, they are. But this time you are hopelessly and hideously wrong.’
‘I’ve found myself entirely wrong before today—particularly when fishing. Ripple, you haven’t much to say. Are there any questions you’d like to ask Mr Watson before we leave?’
‘One or two. You must expect some bluntness from me,’ said the Yard man. ‘I don’t play about with words.’
‘My friend does not practise the art of finesse,’ remarked Amos.
‘I have already been informed about that,’ said Eric surlily.
‘Did Reardon know that there had been an affectionate association between yourself and his wife before her marriage?’ asked Ripple.
‘I couldn’t tell you. He was not the sort of man to worry about that. In any case, he had every right to trust me and he did trust me.’
‘Do you consider that Mrs Reardon is in no way concerned with her husband’s death?’
‘Good God, man! I am certain upon that point. Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘Then why have you swerved away from questions, become annoyed over trifles, and acted like a person with a lot to hide?’
‘I have acted quite straightforwardly all the way through.’
‘Was that bottle of claret unopened when you took the drink out of it for Reardon?’
‘Quite untouched. I had to extract the cork myself.’
‘You would have noticed if the bottle had been tampered with?’
‘Naturally. I can swear that it had not been touched.’
Petrie frowned and rapped on the table.
‘Are you trying to make things as awkward as possible for yourself.’
‘Certainly not. I am telling you the truth. Don’t you believe me?’
‘Did Reardon instruct you personally to bring him a claret and soda? I know that he would take a drink, but did he specify what sort of drink he wanted?’
‘Certainly. Men don’t drink an unusual mixture like that by pure accident. Surely you know that without asking me?’
‘Being nothing except a beer drinker I couldn’t answer you. I don’t think we’ll detain you any longer. When you see Mrs Reardon again you might tell her that within the next few hours I’ll call upon her. It might save her from a shock when I arrive.’
‘Is it necessary, Mr Petrie?’ asked Watson anxiously.
‘Entirely so—and you haven’t helped her position.’
‘I haven’t?’ Watson seemed staggered, quite amazed. ‘But I’d never do a thing to make difficulties for her.’
‘Perhaps that accounts for most of the trouble. Your object in asking me to come here has failed. Partial revelation is never of any service to a man unless he’s fighting for time. Instead of clearing yourself and getting Mrs Reardon out of the line of inquiry, you’ve merely presented me with a new problem. You have compelled me to ask myself whether you can have any object in gaining time.’
‘Mr Petrie, this is outrageous!’
‘Believe me, my friend, nothing is further from my immature mind than outrage. I came here thinking that you might assist me and that in return for your help I might give you a few words of fatherly advice. You have not enabled me to do anything of the kind. The only way in which you can help me is by complete frankness. I hope you’ll bear that in mind. It might assist you the next time we meet—and that will be before much more water flows under Westminster Bridge.’
‘Doesn’t sound as though you’re satisfied,’ said Watson.
‘I’m not. Oh! Before I go would you mind telling me what you know about this man Paling?’
‘That’s quite easy. I only know that he has been associated with Reardon during the last twelve months. I don’t know how, why, or where they met, and I don’t know what they had in common. It always seemed to me that they were frightened of each other. That’s all I know.’
‘Doesn’t help me. Thanks very much.’
Petrie and Ripple left the building and walked round to the Yard. The miserable Ripple was more melancholic than ever.
‘This case will never break in a month of Sundays,’ he complained.
‘Maybe it won’t, Sunshine. You’ll find when you do get to the tail end of it that all your trouble has been worthwhile. I can see quite a lot of things that don’t fit. It may help us to discover what’s happened about the analysis of that claret. At any rate, the report should give us a start. Think it will be ready?’
‘I imagine so. I’ll give a ring as soon as we reach the office.’
Petrie sat down with a copy of the
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