Read Online Crooked House by Agatha Christie - Free Book Online

twisting and untwisting a pleat of the chiffon of her dress.
    “We can state definitely now that your husband died as a result of eserine poisoning.”
    “You mean those eyedrops killed him?”
    “It seems quite certain that when you gave Mr Leonides that last injection, it was eserine that you injected and not insulin.”
    “But I didn't know that. I didn't have anything to do with it. Really I didn't, Inspector.”
    “Then somebody must have deliberately replaced the insulin by the eyedrops.”
    “What a wicked thing to do!”
    “Yes, Mrs Leonides.”
    “Do you think - someone did it on purpose? Or by accident? It couldn't have been a - a joke, could it?”
    Taverner said smoothly: “We don't think it was a joke, Mrs Leonides.”
    “It must have been one of the servants.”
    Taverner did not answer.
    “It must. I don't see who else could have done it.”
    “Are you sure? Think, Mrs Leonides. Haven't you any ideas at all? There's been no ill feeling anywhere? No quarrel? No grudge?”
    She still stared at him with large defiant eyes.
    “I've no idea at all,” she said.
    “You had been at the cinema that afternoon, you said?”
    “Yes - I came in at half past six - it was time for the insulin - I - I - gave him the injection just the same as usual and he went all queer. I was terrified - I rushed over to Roger - I've told you all this before. Have I got to go over it again and again?” Her voice rose hysterically.
    “I'm so sorry, Mrs Leonides. Now can I speak to Mr Brown?”
    “To Laurence? Why? He doesn't know anything about it.”
    “I'd like to speak to him all the same.”
    She stared at him suspiciously.
    “Eustace is doing Latin with him in the schoolroom. Do you want him to come here?”
    “No - we'll go to him.”
    Taverner went quickly out of the room. The Sergeant and I followed.
    “You've put the wind up her, sir,” said Sergeant Lamb.
    Taverner grunted. He led the way up a short flight of steps and along a passage into a big room looking over the garden.
    There a fair haired young man of about thirty and a handsome dark boy of sixteen were sitting at a table.
    They looked up at our entrance. Sophia's brother Eustace looked at me, Laurence Brown fixed an agonised gaze on Chief Inspector Taverner.
    I have never seen a man look so completely paralysed with fright. He stood up, then sat down again. He said, and his voice was almost a squeak,
    “Oh - er - good morning. Inspector.”
    “Good morning,” Taverner was curt. “Can I have a word with you?”
    “Yes, of course. Only too pleased. At least -”
    Eustace got up.
    “Do you want me to go away. Chief Inspector?” His voice was pleasant with a faintly arrogant note.
    “We - we can continue our studies later,” said the tutor.
    Eustace strolled negligently towards the door. He walked rather stiffly. Just as he went through the door, he caught my eye, drew a forefinger across the front of his throat and grinned. Then he shut the door behind him.
    “Well, Mr Brown,” said Taverner. “The analysis is quite definite. It was eserine that caused Mr Leonides's death.”
    “I - you mean - Mr Leonides was really poisoned? I have been hoping -”
    “He was poisoned,” said Taverner curtly. “Someone substituted eserine eyedrops for insulin.”
    “I can't believe it... It's incredible.”
    “The question is, who had a motive?”
    “Nobody. Nobody at all!” The young man's voice rose excitedly.
    “You wouldn't like to have your solicitor present, would you?” inquired Taverner.
    “I haven't got a solicitor. I don't want one. I have nothing to hide - nothing...”
    “And you quite understand that what you say is about to be taken down.”
    “I'm innocent - I assure you, I'm innocent.”
    “I have not suggested anything else.”
    Taverner paused. “Mrs Leonides was a good deal younger than her husband, was she not?”
    “I - I suppose so - I mean, well, yes.”
    “She must have felt lonely sometimes?”
    Laurence Brown did not