Late, Late in the Evening

clear my little girl of a charge of thieving from another child at her school. Not that I'm all that sold on it in a general way, you understand, because, as it seems to me, psychology is more concerned with finding excuses for the criminal than getting him committed on a charge.'

Having obtained carte blanche from him, I considered my suspects all over again. Two of them, the photographer and Mr Conyers, I decided to ignore for the time being. Neither was at all likely to have had a motive for killing Merle Patterson and the only possible reason which Mr Conyers could have had for murdering Ward was that he thought him a threat to little Lionel's inheritance. As, according to Mrs Kempson, the estate was more or less of a white elephant, this motive seemed inadequate. Lionel would get the money anyway.

I turned my attention again to Doctor Tassall. It seemed time to put the cards on the table. I sent a note to the surgery to ask him to spare a few minutes on his next round or as soon as was convenient, to pay a call on Mrs Landgrave.

That this was a deceitful move intending to disarm him I freely admit. However, if he was a murderer, the nicer scruples were out of place; if he was an innocent man he had nothing to fear or, at this late stage in the proceedings, nothing to hide from me. The mere fact that he was suspected-if he did not know it already-should be sufficient, I thought, to make him willing to talk.

From my window on to the street I saw him arrive. I opened the front door to him myself and led him into my sitting-room.

Are you the patient?' he enquired.

There is no patient for you, but possibly one for me,' I replied. He did not pretend to misunderstand me.

Any police hidden behind the arras?' he asked, with an attempt at flippancy which was bold but not convincing.

'No police, but I believe Mr Landgrave is within call.'

'Oh, yes. Bit of a bruiser, isn't he?'

'I believe he has the reputation of being a man of his hands.'

'I accept the hint. Well, if I'm the patient, what is your diagnosis?'

'I cannot make one until you have answered my questions.'

'Right. I haven't time for verbal sparring, so fire away, please. I've a number of calls to make.'

'It is about the one you didn't make that I should like to question you.'

'I don't have to incriminate myself, you know.'

'You could not do so at this particular interview, since there are no witnesses.'

'You don't think the police would accept your word against mine?'

'Not as proof positive. As a base for future enquiries I think they might. Now, Doctor Tassall, it ill becomes me, perhaps, to tell you that the best way you can help yourself is to tell the truth, but I believe that it would be in your own interests to do so. It was easy enough to find out that there is no such patient as Mrs Collins on your list.'

'Easy enough to find that out, yes. So what?'

'So I can think of various reasons why you left the birthday party so early that night.'

'Oh, yes? Are you going to tell me what they are?'

'Certainly, and leave you to indicate the right one.'

'And suppose I select the wrong one?'

'It will take me a little longer to find out which is the right one, that is all.'

'I see. Do you like answering riddles?'

'Propound one.'

'Try this, since you are trying to get me hanged. 'There was a man made a thing, and he that made it did it bring, but he 'twas made for did not know whether 'twas a thing or no.''

I was familiar with the riddle, so I said:

'I believe you are optimistic. Are not convicted murderers buried coffinless and in quick-lime after the hanging? Let us give up these time-consuming jests. Here are your alternatives to Mrs Collins and her being brought to bed. Either you left the party in order to avoid Merle Patterson, or else you left the party and she followed you out of the house by mutual arrangement so that you could discuss your private affairs.'

'I've told you before! We no longer had private affairs to discuss.'

'Miss Patterson seems to have thought you had.'

'So you expect me to choose the second alternative and agree that Merle and I had arranged to meet outside the house that night!'

'It would be wise for you to admit it.'

'Why?'

'Because I am sure it is the truth.'

'Tell me why you think so.'

'I have two reasons. For one thing, you had told Miss Kempson-Conyers that you expected a call and would have to absent yourself at some point from the party in order to attend on Mrs Collins.'