really know how far the old pussy has gone in her own mind. I'd say she'd been just worried to start with, and gradually getting more so. She's quite intelligent, you know, went to Girton, or wanted to, and was advanced when she was young. She's not got quite the woolly mind of most of the people down here.'
'Miss Fullerton had rather a woolly mind, I should imagine,' said Luke. 'That's why I never dreamed there was anything in her story, to begin with.'
'She was pretty shrewd, I always thought,' said Bridget. 'Most of these rambling old dears are as sharp as nails in some ways. You said she mentioned other names?'
Luke nodded. 'Yes. A small boy — that was Tommy Pierce. I remembered the name as soon as I heard it. And I'm pretty sure that the man Carter came in too.'
'Carter, Tommy Pierce, Amy Gibbs, Doctor Humbleby,' said Bridget thoughtfully. 'As you say, it's almost too fantastic to be true. Who on earth would want to kill those people? They were all so different!'
Luke asked, 'Any idea as to why anyone should want to do away with Amy Gibbs?'
Bridget shook her head. 'I can't imagine.'
'What about the man Carter? How did he die, by the way?'
'Fell into the river and was drowned. He was on his way home, it was a misty night and he was quite drunk. There's a footbridge with a rail on only one side. It was taken for granted that he missed his footing.'
'But someone could quite easily have given him a shove?'
'Oh, yes.'
'And somebody else could quite easily have given nasty little Tommy a push when he was window- cleaning?'
'Again, yes.'
'So it boils down to the fact that it's really quite easy to remove three human beings without anyone suspecting.'
'Miss Fullerton suspected,' Bridget pointed out.
Luke said: 'I suppose it's no good my asking you if you've a hunch of any kind? There's no particular individual in Wychwood who gives you a creepy feeling down the spine, or who has strange pale eyes or a queer, maniacal giggle?'
Bridget said, 'You think this man is definitely mad?'
'Oh, I should say so. A lunatic all right, but a cunning one. My Miss Fullerton spoke of the look in his eyes when he was measuring up his next victim. From the way she spoke, I got the impression — it's only an impression, mark you — that the man she was speaking of was at least her social equal. Of course, I may be wrong!'
'You're probably quite right! Those nuances of conversation can't be put down in black and white, but they're the sort of things one doesn't really make mistakes about.'
'You know,' said Luke, 'it's a great relief to have you knowing all about it.'
'It will probably cramp your style less, I agree. And I can probably help you.'
'Your help will be invaluable. You really mean to see it through?'
'Of course.'
Luke said, with a sudden slight embarrassment, 'What about Lord Easterfield? Do you think –'
'Naturally, we won't tell Gordon anything about it,' said Bridget.
'You mean, he wouldn't believe it?'
'Oh, he'd believe it! Gordon could believe anything! He'd probably be simply thrilled and insist on having half a dozen of his bright young men down to beat up the neighborhood! He'd simply adore it!'
'That does rather rule it out,' agreed Luke.
'Yes, we can't allow him to have his simple pleasures, I'm afraid.'
Luke looked at her. He seemed about to say something, then changed his mind. He looked, instead, at his watch.
'Yes,' said Bridget, 'we ought to be getting home.' She got up. There was a sudden constraint between them, as though Luke's unspoken words hovered uncomfortably in the air. They walked home in silence.
Chapter 7
Luke sat in his bedroom. At lunchtime he had sustained an interrogation by Mrs. Anstruther as to what flowers he'd had in his garden in the Mayang Straits. He had then been told what flowers would have done well there. He had also listened to further Talks to Young Men on the Subject of Myself by Lord Easterfield. Now he was mercifully alone.
He took a sheet of paper and wrote down a series of names. It ran as follows:
Doctor Thomas
Mr. Abbot
Major Horton
Mr. Ellsworthy
Mr. Wake
Amy's young man
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, etc.
He then took another sheet of paper and headed it VICTIMS. Under this heading he wrote:
Amy Gibbs — Poisoned
Tommy Pierce — Pushed out of window
Harry Carter — Shoved off footbridge (drunk? drugged?)
Doctor Humbleby — Blood poisoning
Miss Fullerton — Run down by car
He added:
Mrs. Rose?
Old Ben?
And after a pause:
Mrs. Horton?
He considered his lists, smoked awhile, then took up his pencil once more.
Doctor Thomas. Possible case against him:
Definite motive in the case of Doctor Humbleby. Manner of latter's death suitable — namely, scientific poisoning by germs. Amy Gibbs visited him on afternoon of the day she died. Anything between them? Blackmail?
Tommy Pierce? No connection known. Did Tommy know of connection between him and Amy Gibbs?
Harry Carter? No connection known.
Was Doctor Thomas absent from Wychwood on the day Miss Fullerton went to London ?
Luke sighed and started a fresh heading.
Mr. Abbot. Possible case against him:
I feel a lawyer is definitely a suspicious person. Possibly prejudice. His personality, florid, genial, etc., would
