'Right. Well, now, ask your question. It was good of you not to elaborate upon it last night.'
'Oh, it is nothing to do with me if you change your name. Most of the folk here have changed theirs and, like you, I am sure, for the best of reasons.'
'I am Mrs Farintosh only while I live here. Does that convey anything to you?'
'Well, at a guess, I'd say you were here to look into the matter of the old lady's death. That means you're not sure Chelion Piper did for her.'
'I keep an open mind. What is your own opinion?'
'The one I gave the police when they came rooting around and questioned us. That bloke didn't hold any old lady under water and drown her. Still less did he bash her over the head afterwards.'
'She is said to have written some anonymous letters. Such letters can be hurtful and even dangerous.'
'Sure. I got one myself. One was sent to my baby, too, but as in the ordinary way she never gets any letters-'
'Not even from her editor?'
'Bless you, she hasn't got an editor. I'm Sumatra, except for the photograph at the top of the page. Su can't write a word of English. She just gives me the low-down and I write it up. Simple as that.'
'So when this anonymous letter came?'
'I opened it as usual and found out it was some more of this pernicious muck about our not being married. Well, we are married, to all intents and purposes. What do a few formal words said in front of witnesses and the scribble on a dirty little piece of paper matter? I shall always stick to Su and she will always stick to me. I don't keep an eye on her, you know, only on the fellows who'd like to muscle in on my patch. I'll kill if I have to. Simple as that.'
'Simplicity appears to be your strong suit, Mr Moore.'
'Sure. With Su and me it's like the old song says: I know where I'm going, and I know who's going with me.'
'It goes on: I know whom I love, but he Dear knows whom I'll marryi
'I shall never marry except in one eventuality, so let the Dear look after his own.'
'His own, perhaps - or one of them -being Miss Minnie's murderer?'
'You said it. Simple as that. You know, Dame - OK Mrs Farintosh - I don't understand about that old lady's death. She was a bit off-beat, maybe even a little loose from the neck up, but I'll swear she was harmless.'
'The anonymous letters?'
'Phooee! I don't believe she wrote nary a one of 'em.'
'Have you any grounds for that belief?'
Irelath grinned.
'I haven't the sort of proof a policeman would accept, but you might be willing to consider it. I guess that poor little runt Shard wrote them.'
'There appears to be one, at least, which he did not write.'
'Oh? Which would that be?'
'The letter or, as I think, letters, which got Miss Kennett and Miss Barnes out of the house.'
'Oh, you know about them, do you? That damned woman Constance Kent, I suppose, going all orthodox and righteous. Well, her heaven-made marriage doesn't seem to go so very well. I suppose she couldn't stand the sight of two people who could get on together. I suspect her of having had a go at Sumatra and me, but, although I tackled her, she denied it, and I could have been wrong.'
'So what makes you think of Mr Shard?'
'He's a devious, listening-at-keyholes little bit of nonsense, and he's got a permanent chip on his shoulder because of his lack of inches. But about poor old Minnie. Why should anybody kill her?'
'The answer to that lies in what has been called "the psychology of the individual".'
'Well, that's up your street rather than mine. Too bad, though, that Piper has to take the rap. Are you going to winkle him out of it?'
'Your metaphors are deplorably mixed.'
'It's the Irish in me. Say, when you're free, will you come to lunch with Su and me? She dishes up something pretty special in the way of a curry.'(2)
'To sum up' (wrote Dame Beatrice to Laura) 'the consensus of opinion here is that Chelion Piper is innocent. So far, I have come upon no evidence to show that this majority verdict is either right or wrong, I went to lunch yesterday with Irelath and Sumatra, ate a fearful and wonderful meal prepared and cooked by the latter and had further speech with Irelath while she was doing the washing-up. It was he who gave me the general opinion, but, of course, he may be mistaken.
'This morning I issued my own invitation to Cassie McHaig and Mr Hempseed for cocktails in the bungalow. George will act as barman. My invitation has been accepted, so I will let you know later if any developments ensue. I have yet to talk to these two privately and also I want to see Mr Evans when his wife is not present.
'After that, it will be necessary to trace Miss Kennett and Miss Barnes. I have been given (by Irelath Moore) the name of the newspaper for which Miss Kennett works, so it should not be a difficult matter to find out her new address. Irelath recognised me, but has remained most discreet about my identity. It seems that he was among my audience at a lecture somewhere or other. He further informs me that if Sumatra becomes pregnant he will marry her at once in case his "old man cuts up rough and acts sticky" about his inheritance. This statement was followed by what appears to be his verbal signature (if there can be such a thing; you may prefer to call it his signature tune). This consists of the words: "It's as simple as that." He added that if I recollected our previous conversation he would like to add
