'It must have been very distressing for you finding him that day -' Faro decided to pretend ignorance and the mild curiosity that might be expected of him regarding Sir Archie's death.
Mark shook his head. 'I didn't know what had happened until later. I was busy in the estate office. Something my stepfather wanted checked,' he continued swiftly. Then, looking at Faro, he said, 'We were used to him being unseated by his horse. He would arrive back on foot in a towering rage, out for blood.'
'That happened often?'
'Often enough. He had a passion for highly bred Arab horses, very expensive. He had to show them - like everyone else - that he was master. Used the whip cruelly at the breaking-in process -'
'He was riding alone, I take it?'
'No. As a matter of fact he had one of our guests with him.'
'And didn't this guest give the alarm?'
'Of course,' said Mark uncomfortably. 'Oh, there you are,' he called as Lady Elrigg and her companion Miss Kent emerged from the walled garden, the relief in his voice suggesting rescue from a particularly nasty situation. Faro bowed politely, greeted them cordially. While he listened to Mark explaining too brightly that Mr Faro was still busy with his inquiries about the paintings, he felt Lady Elrigg's smile was fixed and held no warmth.
But it was the companion who most interested him. This was their first meeting and he regarded her with considerable interest in the light of Constable Dewar's scathing remarks regarding her matrimonial chances.
Beatrice Kent was tall and thin with a sallow complexion, the kind of anonymity that doomed actresses to character roles. Even in extreme youth he doubted whether she had ever been pretty enough for juvenile leads. She was no foil for her mistress's flamboyant beauty.
She was aware of his scrutiny and turned aside sharply. At her side Poppy Elrigg continued to smile, her composure unimpaired by this encounter with the insurance assessor. Only Miss Kent showed evidence of despair, her lips trembling, her eyes darting back and forth nervously from one to the other as if in some desperate mute appeal for help.
At last she touched Lady Elrigg's arm, the slightest gesture but enough communication for the two women to turn and look at him with expressions that left him in no doubt regarding his popularity. And had they been able to slip back into the shrubbery unobserved he guessed they would have withdrawn immediately.
Feeling that words of explanation were demanded of him, he said heartily: 'Just the usual procedures, you know.'
'In view of our unfortunate bereavement, I was reminding him -' Mark's voice held a note of pleading.
'I'm sure Mr Faro understands perfectly.' Lady Elrigg's brilliant smile in his direction was followed by a brisk nod to Mark. 'And now, if you'll excuse us. Come along, Mark,' she added as if he had some burning desire to remain. 'Beatrice and I were looking for you. There are estate matters urgently needing your attention, you know.'
The heir to Elrigg seemed in no great hurry to take over his duties either and Faro, detecting a hint of reproach and reprimand, regarded their rapid exit thoughtfully.
Lady Elrigg had been particularly anxious to remove Mark and, he felt sure, she would be very concerned about the particulars of their conversation.
At that moment, he decided that Mark was the most unlikely person to have murdered Sir Archie if he had found him unconscious in the spinney.
Unless he was lying in wait for just such a possibility, when he most certainly would have been seen in the vicinity by Yarrow or Dewar. Besides, from what Mark had told him, Faro felt the boy was more likely to have rushed to the scene and tried his best to resuscitate his stepfather.
Returning along the Castle drive, deep in his own thoughts, Faro stepped aside to make way for a rider leading a string of horses.
Greetings exchanged, Faro was admiring the mare with her new foal, when the lad said: 'You're the man from the insurance people. I thought I recognised you. I've seen you at the inn.'
'You were here the day of His Lordship's accident?'
'I was that,' said the lad as he dismounted. 'Mind you, I thought little of it at the time. His Lordship had frequent disagreements with the beasts. Often came off worst.'
He shook his head. 'I didn't realise he was hurt, especially as the other gentleman rode in, never mentioned it -'
'This other gentleman. Who was he?'
The stable boy gave him a curious look. 'Very important he was sir, very confidential. We'd lose our jobs if we talked about him - gossiped and the like,' he said anxiously.
'Quite so. I just wondered why he hadn't waited and seen His Lordship home.'
'Can't say, sir. He rode in. I helped him dismount and he was very wet and in a tearing rage, I could see that. He ordered his carriage to be sent round immediately and stormed off to the house. We hadn't been told that he was leaving and of course there was the usual panic. I watched him leave with his servants, wondering about His Lordship. Wasn't like him not to be there to speed on the departing guest. Her Ladyship looked a bit flustered, apologetic like.'
'Was Mr Mark with her?'
'No. I didn't see him. When I got back to the stables, His Lordship's horse galloped in. I was alarmed. I realised His Lordship might have gone right up to the Castle not to be late for dinner. But that wasn't like him. It was still raining and getting dark. I chatted to the other lads and none of us liked the idea of him lying hurt out there, especially with the cattle roaming about, upset by a stalking party earlier on. And we'd been told there were some young calves just dropped.
'Then Constable Dewar rode in, told us about the accident,' He shrugged. 'When we got there it was too late. Sergeant Yarrow and Dr Brand were with him.'
'Anyone else?'
The stable
