Ngaio Marsh - Death At The Bar

by Ngaio Marsh

  It shows us two things. The murderer must have kept a bit of cyanide up his sleeve and he must have visited the private bar after Abel decanted the sherry at a quarter to one this afternoon. We will now search their rooms. We won't find anything, but we'd better do it. I'll just see how Fox is getting on." Fox, white and shaken, was sitting on the edge of the bath. Dr. Shaw was washing his hands.

  "He'll do all right now,"said Dr. Shaw. "Better go to bed and take it easy." "I'm damned if I do,"said Fox. "Excuse me, sir, but I'm damned if I do." Alleyn took him by the elbow.

  "Blast your eyes,"he said, "you'll do as you're told.

  Come on." Fox consented with a bad grace to lying on his bed.

  Alleyn and Harper searched the rooms.

  il At first Harper said that the rooms, in all essentials, were as he had found them on the day after Watchman's death. In Cubitt's they found an overwhelming smell of studio and the painting gear that had engendered it.

  There were bottles of turpentine and oil, half-finished works, Cubitt's paint-box, and boxes of unopened tubes.

  Alleyn smelt the bottles and shook his head.

  "We needn't take them,"he said, "their stink is a lawful stink. You can't put turpentine or oil into vintage sherry and get away with it." "What about prussic acid? It smells strong enough." "Of almonds. A nutty flavour. Do you remember the account of the murder of Rasputin? " "Can't say I do,"said Harper.

  "Youssoupoff put cyanide in the wine. Rasputin drank several glasses, apparently with impunity." "But——" "The theory is that the sugar in the wine took the punch out of the poison. That may account for Fox's escape. No doubt the sherry had a fine old nutty aroma.

  By God, I'll get this expert." "What are we looking for? " "For anything that could have held the stuff he put in the decanter. Oh, he'll have got rid of it somehow, of course. But you never know." They went into the bathroom. In a cupboard above the hand-basin they found Abel's second first-aid outfit.

  Alleyn asked Harper if there had been a bottle of iodine there on the day after the murder. Harper said no. He had checked the contents of the cupboard. They separated and took the rest of the rooms between them, Alleyn going to Legge's and Parish's, Harper to the others.

  Alleyn took a small empty bottle from Parish's room.

  It had held pills and smelt of nothing at all. On Legge's dressing-table he found a phial half-full of a thick pinkish fluid that smelt of antiseptic. Mr. Legge's ear lotion.

  He kept it and searched all the drawers and pockets but found nothing else of interest. Abel's room was neat and spotless. Will's untidy and full of books. The wearisome and exacting business went on. Down below, in the private bar, Oates and his mate kept company with the patrons of the Plume of P'eathers. They were very quiet.

  Occasionally Alleyn heard the voices of Parish and of Mr.

  Nark. Ottercombe clock struck ten, sweetly and slowly.

  There was a moment of complete quiet broken by a violent eruption of noise down in the bar. Alleyn and Harper met in the passage.

  "Somebody cutting up rough,"said Harper.

  A falsetto voice screamed out an oath. A table was overturned and there followed a great clatter of boots.

  Harper ran downstairs and Alleyn followed. Inside the private bar they found Legge, mouthing and gibbering, between Oates and a second uniformed constable.

  "What's all this? "asked Harper.

  "Misdemeanour, sir,"said Oates whose nose was bleeding freely. "Assault and battery." "I don't care what it is,"screamed Legge. "I can't stand any more of this----" "Shut up, you silly chap,"admonished Oates. "He tried to make a breakaway, sir. Sitting there as quiet as you please, and all of a sudden makes a blind rush for the door and when we intercepts him he wades in and assaults and batters the pair of us. Won't give over, sir. You're under arrest, Robert I egge, and it is my duty to warn you that you needn't say anything, but what you do say may be used in evidence. Stop that." "Persecuted,"whispered Legge. "Persecuted, spied upon, driven and badgered and maddened. I know what it means. Let me go. Damn you, let me go I " He kicked Oates on the shin. Oates swore and twisted Legge's arm behind his back. Legge screamed and went limp.

  "You'll have to be locked up,"said Harper sadly.

  "Now, are you going to behave or have we got to put the bracelets on you? Be a sensible chap." "I'll resist,"said Legge, "till you kill me." "Oh, take him away,"said Harper. "Put him in a room upstairs, both of you." Legge, struggling and gasping horridly, was taken out.

  "Ah, it's at his wits' end he is, poor wretch,"said Miss Darragh.

  Cubitt said, "Look here, this is ghastly. If he's not guilty why the hell----? " Parish said, "Not guilty I I must say that for an innocent man his behaviour is pretty fantastic." Will Pomeroy crossed the room and confronted Alleyn and Harper.

  "Why's he arrested? "demanded Will.

  "Assaulting a constable and interfering with the police in the execution of their duty,"said Harper.

  "My God, he was drove to it! If this is justice the sooner there's a revolution in the country the better. It's enough to send the man mad, the way you've been pestering him. Haven't you the sense to see the state he's got into? Damme if I'm not nigh-ready to take on the lot of you myself. Let that man go." "That'll do. Will,"said Harper.

  "' That'll do I ' The official answer for every blasted blunder in the force. Bob Legge's my comrade----" "In which case,"said Alleyn, "you'll do well to think a little before you speak. You can hardly expect Mr.

  Harper to set up constables in rows for your comrade Legge to bloody their noses. While his mood lasts he's better in custody. You pipe down like a sensible fellow." He turned to Harper. "Stay down here a moment, will you? I'll take a look at Fox and rejoin you." He ran upstairs and met Oates in the landing.

  "My mate's put Legge in his own room, sir,"said Oates.

  "Good. He'd better stay with him and you'd better dip your nose in cold water before you resume duty. Then come and relieve Mr. Harper." Oates went into the bathroom. Alleyn opened Fox's door and listened. Fox was snoring deeply and rhythmically.

  Alleyn closed the door softly and returned to the taproom.

  in It was the last time that he was to see that assembly gathered together in the private taproom of the Plume of Feathers. He had been little over twenty-four hours in Ottercombe but it seemed more like a week. The suspects in a case of murder become quickly and strangely familiar to the investigating officer. He has an aptitude for noticing mannerisms, tricks of voice and of movement.

  Faces and figures make their impression quickly and sharply. Alleyn expected, before he saw them, Cubitt's trick of smiling lopsidedly. Parish's habit of sticking out his jaw, Miss Darragh's look of inscrutability, Will Pomeroy's mulish blushes, and his father's way of opening his eyes very widely. The movement of Nark's head, slanted conceitedly, and his look of burning self-importance, seemed to be memories of a year rather than of days.

  Alleyn felt a little as if they were marionettes, obeying a few simple jerks of their strings and otherwise inert and stupid. He felt wholeheartedly bored with the lot of them, the thought of another bout of interrogation was almost intolerable. Fox might have been killed. Reaction had set in, and Alleyn was sick at heart.

  "Well,"he said crisply, "you may as well know what has happened. Between a quarter to one and five past seven somebody put poison in the decanter of sherry that was kept for our use. You will readily understand that we shall require a full account from each one of you of your movements after a quarter to one. Mr. Harper and I will see you in turn in the parlour. If you discuss the matter among yourselves it will be within hearing of Constable Oates who will be on duty in this room. We'll see you first if you please, Mr. Cubitt." But it was the usual exasperating job that faced him.

  None of them had a complete alibi. Each of them could have slipped unseen into the taproom and come out again unnoticed. Abel had locked the bar shutter during closing hours, but every one knew where he kept his keys, and several times when the
bar was open it had been deserted.

  Cubitt said he was painting from two o'clock until six when he returned for his evening meal. He had been one of the company in the taproom when Alleyn came in for the sherry but had left immediately to meet Decima Moore on Coombe Head. The others followed with similar stories, except old Pomeroy who frankly admitted he had sat in the taproom for some time, reading his paper.

  Each of them denied being alone there at any time after Abel had decanted the sherry. An hour's exhaustive inquiry failed to prove or disprove any of their statements.

  Last of all, Mr. Legge was brought down in a state of the profoundest dejection and made a series of protestations to the effect that he was being persecuted. He was a pitiful object, and Alleyn's feeling of nausea increased as he watched him. At last Alleyn said : "Mr. Legge, we only arrived here last evening but, as you must realise, we have already made many inquiries.

  Of all the people we have interviewed, you alone have objected to the way we set about our job. Why? " Legge looked at Alleyn without speaking. His lower lip hung loosely, his eyes, half-veiled, in that now familiar way by his white lashes, looked like the eyes of a blind man. Only his hands moved restlessly. After a moment's silence he mumbled something inaudible.

  "What do you say? " "It doesn't matter. Everything I say is used against me." Alleyn looked at him in silence.

  "I think,"he said at last, "that it is my duty to tell you that a dart bearing your fingerprints was sent to the bureau early this morning. They have been identified and the result has been telephoned to us." Legge's hands moved convulsively.

  "They have been identified,"Alleyn repeated, "as those of Montague Thringle. Montague Thringle was sentenced to six years imprisonment for embezzlement, a sentence that was afterwards reduced to four years and was completed twenty-six months ago."He paused.

  Legge's face was clay-coloured. "You must have known we'd find out,"said Alleyn. "Why didn't you tell me last night who you were? " "Why? Why? "demanded Legge. "You know why.

  You know well enough. The very sight and sound of the police I Anathema I Questions, questions, questions I At me all the time. Man with a record. Hound him out.

  Tell everybody. Slam every door in his face. And you have the impertinence to ask me why I was silent. My Godi" "All right,"said Alleyn, "we'll leave it at that. How did you spend your afternoon? " "There you go I "cried Legge, half-crying but still with that curious air of admonishment. "There you go, you see I Straight off. Asking me things like that. It's atrocious." "Nonsense,"said Alleyn.

  "Nonsense I "echoed Legge, in a sort of fury. He shook his finger in Alleyn's face. "Don't you talk like that to me, sir. Do you know who I am? Do you know that before my misfortune I was the greatest power in English finance? Let me tell you that there are only three men living who fully comprehended the events that brought about the holocaust of '29 and '30, and I am one of them. If I had not put my trust in titled imbeciles, if I had not been betrayed by a skulking moran, I should be in a position to send for you when I wished to command your dubious services, or dismiss them with a contemptuous fiddle-dedee." This astonishing and ridiculous word was delivered with such venom that Alleyn was quite taken aback.

  Into his thoughts, with the appropriate logic of topsyturvey, popped the memory of a jigging line ; "To shirk the task were fiddle-dedee.

  To shirk the task were fiddle-de, fiddle-de----" He pulled himself together, cautioned and tackled Mr.

  Legge, and at last got a statement from him. He had spent the afternoon packing his books, papers and effects, and putting them in his car. He had intended to take the first load into his new room that evening. He had also written some letters. He offered frantically to show Alleyn the letters. Alleyn had already seen them and they amounted to nothing. He turned Legge over to Oates whose nose was now plugged with cotton-wool.

  "You'd better take him to the station,"said Alleyn.

  "I demand bail,"cried Legge in a trembling voice.

  "Mr. Harper will see about that,"said Alleyn.

  "You're under arrest for a misdemeanour." "I didn't kill him. I know what you're up to. It's the beginning of the end. I swear----" "You are under arrest for assaulting police officers," said Alleyn wearily. "I will repeat the caution you have already heard." He repeated it and was devoutly thankful when Legge, in a condition of hysterical prostration, was led away. Harper, with Oates and his mate, was to drive him to Illington and lodge him in the police station.

  "The colonel's at the station,"said Harper acidly.

  "That was him on the telephone while you were upstairs.

  His car's broken down again. Why, in his position and with all his money, he doesn't--oh, well! He wants me to bring him back here or you to come in. Which'll it be?

  The man'U talk us all dotty, wherever he is." "I'll have another look at Fox."said Alleyn. "If he's awake, I'll get him into bed and then follow you into Illington. I'd like the doctor to see him again." "There'll be no need for that, sir, thank you." Alleyn spun round on his heel to see Fox, fully dressed and wearing his bowler hat, standing in the doorway.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN THE CHIEF CONSTABLE AS WATSON

  "i've reported for duty, if you please, Mr. Alleyn,"said Fox.

  "You unspeakable old ninny,"said Alleyn, "go back to bed." "With all respect, sir, I'd rather not. I've had a very pleasant nap and am quite myself again. So if you'll allow me----" "Br'er Fox,"said Alleyn, "are we to have a row? " "I hope not, sir, I'm sure,"said Fox tranquilly. "Six years I think it is now, and never a moment's unpleasantness, thanks to your tact and consideration." "Damn you, go to bed." '' If it's all the same to you, sir, I'd rather----" "Mr. Fox,"Alleyn began very loudly and stopped short. They stared at each other. Harper coughed and moved to the door. Alleyn swore violently, seized Fox by the arm, and shoved him into an arm-chair. He then knelt on the harlequin rug and lit the fire.

  "I'd be obliged. Nick,"said Alleyn over his shoulder, "if you'd bring Colonel Brammington here. Would you explain that circumstances over which I appear to have no control oblige me to remain at the Plume of Feathers? " "I'm quite able to drive----"Fox began.

  "You shut up,"said Alleyn warmly.

  Harper went out.

  "Offences against discipline,"said Alleyn, "are set forth in the Police Regulations under seventeen headings, including neglect of duty and disobedience to orders, together with a general heading covering discreditable conduct."He looked up from the fire. Discreditable conduct,"he repeated.

  Fox was shaken with a soundless subterranean chuckle.

  "I'm going into the taproom,"said Alleyn. "If you move out of that chair I'll damn well serve you with a Misconduct Form. See Regulation 13." "I'll get the super in as my witness, sir,"said Fox.

  "See Regulation 17."And at this pointless witticism he went off into an ecstasy of apoplectic mirth.

  Alleyn returned to the taproom where Oates still kept guard. Miss Darragh was knitting in the ingle-nook, Parish stood near the shuttered windows, Cubitt was drawing in the battered sketch-book he always carried in his pocket. Abel Pomeroy sat disconsolately in one of his own settles. Will glowered in a corner. Mr. Nark wore the expression of one who has been made to feel unpopular.

  Alleyn said, "You may open up again if you wish, Mr.

  Pomeroy. I'm sorry to have kept you all so long. Until you and your rooms had been searched, we had no alternative. To-morrow, you will be asked to sign the statements you have made to Mr. Harper. In the meantime, if you wish, you may go to your rooms. You v/ill not be allowed to leave the premises until further orders. Mr.

  Nark may go home." From the stairs came the sound of heavy steps. Harper and the second constable came down with Legge between them. Alleyn had left the taproom door open. Six pairs of eyes turned to watch Legge go out.

  Miss Darragh suddenly called out, "Cheer up, now.

  It's nothing at all, man. I'll go bail for you." Will started forward.

  "I want to speak to him." "Certainly,"said Alleyn.
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br />   "I'm sorry it has turned out this way, mate,"said Will. "Damned injustice and nothing less. It won't make any difference with the Party. You know that.

  We'll stick by you. Wish I'd bloodied 'tother nose and gone to clink along with you." "They've got a down on me,"said Legge desolately.

  "I know that. Good luck I " "Come along now,"said Harper. "Get a move on.

  Ready, Gates? " Oates went out to them and Alleyn shut the door.

  "Well,"said Parish. "I call that a step in the right direction, Mr. Alleyn." "For God's sake, Seb, hold your tongue,"said Cubitt.

  "What d'you mean by that, Mr. Parish? "demanded Will. "You'd better be careful what you're saying, hadn't you? " "That's no way to speak, sonny,"said Abel.

  "While I've a tongue in my head----"began Will.

  "You'll set a guard on it, I hope,"said Alleyn.