‘He was,’ said Charmian, ‘most civil on all three occasions.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Henry, ‘if I could continue …? Then Charmian can add her comments.’
He finished Charmian’s statement. ‘That is correct,’ said Charmian.
‘How could he be
‘Mr Guy Leet,’ Henry announced, taking up the next paper. ‘Oh, Guy isn’t here, of course —’
‘Guy asked me to say,’ said Alec, ‘we could discuss his case as much as we like so long as we don’t discuss his private life up to 1940.
‘Has to get about on two sticks,’ commented Godfrey.
‘Guy’s account,’ said Henry, ‘is substantially the same as the others, with the most interesting exception that he gets Toll calls from London at between six and seven in the evening when the cheap rate is on. In his opinion the offender is a schoolboy.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Dame Lettie. ‘A middle-aged man.’
‘It is simple,’ said Henry, ‘to trace a Toll call from London to the country. And yet the police have not yet traced any caller to Guy Leet at Stedrost.’
‘Quite,’ said Dame Lettie. ‘The police —’However, we will discuss these factors later,’ said Henry. ‘Next Mr Ronald Sidebottome — Oh, Ronald’s not here either. What’s happened to Ronald, Janet?’
‘He was a youth — a Teddy-boy, as I’ve said,’ Janet Sidebottome replied.
‘Ronald,’ roared Godfrey into her ear. ‘Why hasn’t Ronald turned up? He said he was coming.’
‘Oh, Ronald. Well, he was to call for me. I suppose he forgot. It was most annoying. I waited and then I rang him up but he wasn’t at home. I really can’t answer for Ronald these days. He is never at home.’
Alec Warner took out a small diary and scribbled something in pencil.
‘Ronald’s statement,’ said Mortimer, ‘describes the caller as a man well advanced in years with a cracked and rather shaky voice and a suppliant tone.’
‘There must be something wrong with his phone,’ said Dame Lettie. ‘The man’s voice is strong and sinister. A man of middle years.’
You must remember, Henry, that I have had far more experience of the creature than anyone else.’
‘Yes, Lettie, my dear, I admit you have been greatly tried. Now Miss Lottinville, your statement … “At three o’clock in the morning … A foreigner …”‘
Mrs Mortimer put her head round the door. ‘Tea is ready, Henry, when you are. I have laid it in the breakfast room so that —’
‘In five minutes, Emmeline.’
She disappeared and Godfrey looked yearningly after her. ‘Finally Mr Rose,’ said Henry, ‘“I received the call at my business premises at twelve noon on two days running … the man sounded like an official person … late middle age…”’
‘That sounds accurate,’ said Dame Lettie. ‘Only I would describe the voice as
‘Did he have a lisp?’ said Godfrey.
‘Mr Rose has not mentioned a lisp in his statement — Had he a lisp, Mr Rose?’ said Henry.
‘No, no. Like an official. My wife says an army man, but I would say a government chap.’
Everyone spoke at once.
‘Oh no,’ said Janet Sidebottome, ‘he was —’
‘A gang,’ said Dame Lettie, ‘there must be a gang.
Miss Lottinville said: ‘I assure you, Chief Inspector, he is a man of the Orient, I should say.’
Henry waited for a while till the noise subsided. He said to Mr Rose, ‘Are you satisfied with your account as I have read it?’
‘A hundred per cent,’ said Mr Rose.
‘Then let’s continue the discussion after tea,’ said Henry.
Miss Lottinville said: ‘You have not read the statement of this lady on my left.’ The lady on her left was Mrs Pettigrew.
Alec Warner wondered, from the vehemence of her tone, if she were lying.
Mrs Mortimer sat with her silver teapot poised at a well-spread table.
‘Come and sit by me,’ she said kindly to Gwen, ‘and you can help to pass the cups.
Gwen lit a cigarette and sat down sideways at the place indicated. ‘Have you been afflicted with these phone calls?’ Emmeline Mortimer asked her.
‘Me? No, I get wrong numbers.’
Mrs Pettigrew said confidentially to Mrs Mortimer: ‘I’ve had no trouble myself from any phone calls. Between ourselves, I think it’s all made up. I don’t believe a word of what they say. They’re trying to draw attention to themselves. Like kids.’
