Read Online The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Agatha Christie
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Gardner?”
“Then there's Sylvia. She's married to Martin Dering - you may have read his books. He's a moderately successful author.”
“Thank you, and their address?”
“The Nook, Surrey Road, Wimbledon.”
“Yes?”
“And the youngest is Brian - but he is out in Australia. I am afraid I don't know his address, but either his brother or sister would know.”
“Thank you, Mrs Gardner. Just as a matter of form, do you mind my asking you how you spent yesterday afternoon?”
She looked surprised.
“Let me see. I did some shopping - yes - then I went to the Pictures. I came home about six and lay down on my bed until dinner, as the Pictures had given me rather a headache.”
“Thank you, Mrs Gardner.”
“Is there anything else?”
“No, I don't think I have anything further to ask you. I will now get into communication with your nephew and niece. I don't know if Mr Kirkwood has informed you of the fact yet, but you and the three young Pearsons are the joint inheritors of Captain Trevelyan's money.”
The color came into her face in a slow, rich blush.
“That will be wonderful,” she said quietly. “It has been so difficult - so terribly difficult - always skimping and saving and wishing.”
She started up as a man's rather querulous voice came floating down the stairs.
“Jennifer, jennifer, I want you.”
“Excuse me,” she said.
As she opened the door the call came again, louder and more imperiously.
“Jennifer, where are you? I want you, Jennifer.”
The Inspector had followed her to the door. He stood in the hall looking after her as she ran up the stairs.
“I am coming, dear,” she called.
A hospital nurse who was coming down the stairs stood aside to let her pass up.
“Please go to Mr Gardner, he is getting very excited. You always manage to calm him.”
Inspector Narracott stood deliberately in the nurse's way as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“May I speak to you for a moment?” he said. “My conversation with Mrs Gardner was interrupted.”
The nurse came with alacrity into the drawing-room.
“The news of the murder has upset my patient,” she explained, adjusting a well-starched cuff. “That foolish girl, Beatrice, came running up and blurted it all out.”
“I am sorry,” said the Inspector. “I am afraid that was my fault.”
“Oh, of course, you couldn't be expected to know,” said the nurse graciously.
“Is Mr Gardner dangerously ill?” inquired the Inspector.
“It's a sad case,” said the nurse. “Of course, in a manner of speaking, there's nothing the matter with him really. He's lost the use of his limbs entirely through nervous shock. There's no visible disability.”
“He had no extra strain or shock yesterday afternoon?” inquired the Inspector.
“Not that I know of,” the nurse looked somewhat surprised.
“You were with him all the afternoon?”
“I intended to be, but, well - as a matter of fact, Captain Gardner was very anxious for me to change two books for him at the library. He had forgotten to ask his wife before she went out. So, to oblige him I went out with them, and he asked me at the same time to get one or two other little things for him - presents for his wife as a matter of fact. Very nice about it he was, and told me I was to have tea at his expense at Boots. He said nurses never liked missing their tea. His little joke, you know. I didn't get out until past four, and what with the shops being so full just before Christmas, and one thing and another, I didn't get back until after six, but the poor fellow had been quite comfortable. In fact, he told me he had been asleep most of the time.”
“Mrs Gardner was back by then?”
“Yes, I believe she was lying down.”
“She's very devoted to her husband, isn't she?”
“She worships him. I really do believe that woman would do anything in the world for him. Quite touching, and very different from some of the cases I have attended. Why, only last month
“Then there's Sylvia. She's married to Martin Dering - you may have read his books. He's a moderately successful author.”
“Thank you, and their address?”
“The Nook, Surrey Road, Wimbledon.”
“Yes?”
“And the youngest is Brian - but he is out in Australia. I am afraid I don't know his address, but either his brother or sister would know.”
“Thank you, Mrs Gardner. Just as a matter of form, do you mind my asking you how you spent yesterday afternoon?”
She looked surprised.
“Let me see. I did some shopping - yes - then I went to the Pictures. I came home about six and lay down on my bed until dinner, as the Pictures had given me rather a headache.”
“Thank you, Mrs Gardner.”
“Is there anything else?”
“No, I don't think I have anything further to ask you. I will now get into communication with your nephew and niece. I don't know if Mr Kirkwood has informed you of the fact yet, but you and the three young Pearsons are the joint inheritors of Captain Trevelyan's money.”
The color came into her face in a slow, rich blush.
“That will be wonderful,” she said quietly. “It has been so difficult - so terribly difficult - always skimping and saving and wishing.”
She started up as a man's rather querulous voice came floating down the stairs.
“Jennifer, jennifer, I want you.”
“Excuse me,” she said.
As she opened the door the call came again, louder and more imperiously.
“Jennifer, where are you? I want you, Jennifer.”
The Inspector had followed her to the door. He stood in the hall looking after her as she ran up the stairs.
“I am coming, dear,” she called.
A hospital nurse who was coming down the stairs stood aside to let her pass up.
“Please go to Mr Gardner, he is getting very excited. You always manage to calm him.”
Inspector Narracott stood deliberately in the nurse's way as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“May I speak to you for a moment?” he said. “My conversation with Mrs Gardner was interrupted.”
The nurse came with alacrity into the drawing-room.
“The news of the murder has upset my patient,” she explained, adjusting a well-starched cuff. “That foolish girl, Beatrice, came running up and blurted it all out.”
“I am sorry,” said the Inspector. “I am afraid that was my fault.”
“Oh, of course, you couldn't be expected to know,” said the nurse graciously.
“Is Mr Gardner dangerously ill?” inquired the Inspector.
“It's a sad case,” said the nurse. “Of course, in a manner of speaking, there's nothing the matter with him really. He's lost the use of his limbs entirely through nervous shock. There's no visible disability.”
“He had no extra strain or shock yesterday afternoon?” inquired the Inspector.
“Not that I know of,” the nurse looked somewhat surprised.
“You were with him all the afternoon?”
“I intended to be, but, well - as a matter of fact, Captain Gardner was very anxious for me to change two books for him at the library. He had forgotten to ask his wife before she went out. So, to oblige him I went out with them, and he asked me at the same time to get one or two other little things for him - presents for his wife as a matter of fact. Very nice about it he was, and told me I was to have tea at his expense at Boots. He said nurses never liked missing their tea. His little joke, you know. I didn't get out until past four, and what with the shops being so full just before Christmas, and one thing and another, I didn't get back until after six, but the poor fellow had been quite comfortable. In fact, he told me he had been asleep most of the time.”
“Mrs Gardner was back by then?”
“Yes, I believe she was lying down.”
“She's very devoted to her husband, isn't she?”
“She worships him. I really do believe that woman would do anything in the world for him. Quite touching, and very different from some of the cases I have attended. Why, only last month
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