Overture to Death

“Why did you lower the curtain?”

Templett looked at his hands.

“Oh, God,” he said. “Have we got to go into all that?”

“I see,” said Alleyn. “No, I don’t think we need. There was a scene that would have compromised you both if anybody had witnessed it?”

“Yes.”

“Did you at any time speak about the letter?”

“She asked me if I’d found out — I may as well tell you I’ve got a note somewhere from Miss Campanula. I thought I’d compare the paper. I’d been so rushed during the day I hadn’t had time. That’s why I didn’t destroy the thing.”

“When you opened the window did you look out?”

“What? Yes. Yes. I think I did.” There was a curious note of uncertainty in his voice.

“Have you remembered something?”

“What’s the good! It sounds like something I’ve made up at the last moment.”

“Let us have it anyway.”

“Well, she caught sight of the window. She noticed it first; saw it over my shoulder, and got an impression that there was something that dodged down behind the sill. It was only a flash, she said. I thought it was probably one of those damned scouts. When I got to the window I looked out. There was nobody there.”

“Were you upset by the discovery of an eavesdropper?”

Templett shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh, what’s the good!” he said. “Yes, I suppose we were.”

“Who was this individual?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“But didn’t Mrs. Ross say who it was? She must have had some impression.”

“Ask her if you must,” he said violently. “I can’t tell you.”

“When you looked out they had gone,” murmured Alleyn. “But you looked out.”

He watched Dr. Templett, and Blandish and Fox watched him. Fox realised that they had reached a climax. He knew what Alleyn’s next question would be, he saw Alleyn raise one eyebrow and screw his mouth sideways before he asked his question.

“Did you look down?” asked Alleyn.

“Yes.”

“And you saw?”

“There was a box under the window.”

“Ah!” It was the smallest sigh. Alleyn seemed to relax all over. He smiled to himself and pulled out his cigarette case.

“That seemed to suggest,” said Templett, “that somebody had stood there, using the box. It wasn’t there when I got to the hall because I went round that way to get the key.”

Alleyn turned to Fox.

“Have you asked them about the box?”

“Yes, sir. Mr. Jernigham, Miss Prentice, every kid in the village, and all the helpers. Nobody knows anything about it.”

“Good,” said Alleyn, heartily.

For the first time since they got there, Dr. Templett showed some kind of interest.

“Is it important?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Alleyn. “I think it’s of the first importance.”

iii

“You knew about this box?” asked Templett after a pause.

“Yes, why don’t you smoke, Dr. Templett?” Alleyn held out his case.

“Are you going to charge me?”

“No. Not on present information.”

Templett took a cigarette and Alleyn lit it for him.

“I’m in a hell of a mess,” said Templett. “I see that.”

“Yes,” agreed Alleyn. “One way and another you’ve landed yourself in rather a box.” But there was something in his ma

Smith came in with the transcript.

“Sergeant Roper’s outside, sir,” he said. “He came down with Mr. Bathgate and wants to see you particular.”

“He can wait,” said Blandish. “He’s wanted to see me particular about ten times a day ever since we got busy.”

“Yes, sir. Will I leave this transcript?”

“Leave it here,” said Blandish, “and wait outside.”

When Smith had gone Blandish spoke to Dr. Templett for the first time that evening.

“I’m very sorry about this, doctor.”

“That’s all right,” said Templett.

“I think Mr. Alleyn will agree with me that if it’s got no bearing on the case we’ll do our best to bury it.”

“Certainly,” said Alleyn.

“I don’t care much what happens,” said Templett.

“Oh, come now, doctor,” said Blandish uncomfortably, “you mustn’t say that.”

But Alleyn saw a gay little drawing-room with a delicate straw-coloured lady, whose good nature did not stretch beyond a very definite point, and he thought he understood Dr. Templett.

“I think,” he said, “you had better give us a complete time-table of your movements from two-thirty on Friday up to eight o’clock last night. We shall check it, but we’ll make the process an impersonal sort of business.”

“But for those ten minutes in the hall, I’m all right,” said Templett. “God, I was with her all the time, until I shut the window! Ask her how long it took! I wasn’t away two minutes over the business. Surely to God she’ll at least bear me out in that. She’s nothing to lose by it.”

“She shall be asked,” said Alleyn.

Templett began to give the names of all the houses he had visited on his rounds. Fox took them down.

Alleyn suddenly asked Blandish to find out how long the Pen Cuckoo telephone had been disco

“From eight-twenty until the next morning.”

“Yes,” said Alleyn. “Yes.”

Dr. Templett’s voice droned on with its flat recital of time and place.

“Yes, I hunted all day Friday. I got home in time to change and go to the five o’clock rehearsal. The servants can check that. When I got home again I found this urgent message… I was out till after midnight. Mrs. Bains at Mill Farm. She was in labour twenty-four hours… yes…”

“May I interrupt?” asked Alleyn. “”Yesterday morning, at Pen Cuckoo, Mrs. Ross did not leave the car?”

“No.”

“Were you shown into the study?”

“Yes.”

“You were there alone?”

“Yes,” said Templett, showing the whites of his eyes. “Dr. Templett, did you touch the box with the automatic?”

“Before God, I didn’t.”

“One more question. Last night did you use all your powers of authority and persuasion to induce Miss Prentice to allow Miss Campanula to take her place?”

“Yes, but — she wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Will you describe again how you found her?”

“I told you last night. I came in late. I thought Dinah would be worried and after I’d changed, I went along to the women’s dressing-room to show her I was there. I heard some one snivelling and moaning, and through the open door I saw Miss Prentice in floods of tears, rocking backwards and forwards and holding her hand. I went in and looked at it. No doctor in his senses would have let her thump the piano. She couldn’t have done it. I told her so, but she kept on saying, ‘I will do it. I will do it.’ I got angry and spoke my mind. I couldn’t get any further with her. It was damned near time we started and I wasn’t even made-up.”

“So you fetched Miss Copeland and her father, knowing the rector would possibly succeed where you had failed.”

“Yes. But I tell you it was physically impossible for her to use her finger. I could have told her that — ”

He stopped short.

“Yes? You could have told her that, how long ago?” said Alleyn.

“Three days ago.”

iv

Smith returned.

“It’s Sergeant Roper, sir. He says it’s very particular indeed and he knows Mr. Alleyn would want to hear it.”

“Blast!” said Blandish. “All right, all right.”

Smith left the door open. Alleyn saw Nigel crouched over an anthracite stove and Roper, sweating and expectant, in the middle of the room.

“Right oh, Roper,” said Smith audibly. Roper hurriedly removed his helmet, cleared his throat, and marched heavily into the room.

“Well, Roper?” said Blandish.

“Sir,” said Roper, “I have a report.” He took his official note-book from a pocket in his tunic and opened it, bringing it into line with his nose. He began to read very rapidly in a high voice.

“This afternoon, November 28th, at 4 p.m. being on duty at the time outside the parish hall of Winton St. Giles I was approached and accosted by a young female. She was well-known to me being by name Gladys Wright (Miss) of Top Lane, Winton. The following conversation eventuated. Miss Wright enquired of me if I was waiting for my girl or my promotion. Myself (P.S. Roper): I am on duty, Miss Wright, and would take it kindly if you would pass along the lane. Miss Wright: Look what our cat’s brought in. P.S. Roper: And I don’t want no lip or saucy boldness. Miss Wright: I could tell you something and I’ve come along to do it, but seeing you’re on duty maybe I’ll keep it for your betters. P.S. Roper: If you know anything, Gladys, you’d better speak up for the law comes down with majesty on them that aids and abets and withholds. Miss Wright: What will you give me? The succeeding remarks are not evidence and bear no co