Not on your life!
He was like a cat on hot bricks.
Scared out of his life as to what she might say.
"And there's the position for you!
They've done a murder and got away with it.
But if the whole thing's going to be raked up, what's going to happen?
Ten to one, the woman will give the show away.
She hasn't got the nerve to stand up and brazen it out.
She's a living danger to her husband, that's what she is.
He's all right.
He'll lie with a straight face till kingdom comes - but he can't be sure of her!
And if she goes to pieces, his neck's in danger!
So he slips something into a cup of tea and makes sure that her mouth is shut permanently."
Armstrong said slowly: "There was no empty cup by her bedside - there was nothing there at all. I looked."
Blore snorted. "Of course there wouldn't be!
First thing he'd do when she'd drunk it would be to take that cup and saucer away and wash it up carefully."
There was a pause.
Then General Macarthur said doubtfully:
"It may be so. But I should hardly think it possible that a man would do that - to his wife."
Blore gave a short laugh. He said: "When a man's neck's in danger, he doesn't stop to think too much about sentiment."
There was a pause.
Before any one could speak, the door opened and Rogers came in.
He said, looking from one to the other: "Is there anything more I can get you?
I'm sorry there was so little toast, but we've run right out of bread.
The new bread hasn't come over from the mainland yet."
Mr. Justice Wargrave stirred a little in his chair. He asked: "What time does the motor boat usually come over?"
"Between seven and eight, sir.
Sometimes it's a bit after eight.
Don't know what Fred Narracott can be doing this morning.
If he's ill he'd send his brother."
Philip Lombard said: "What's the time now?"
"Ten minutes to ten, sir."
Lombard's eyebrows rose. He nodded slowly to himself.
Rogers waited a minute or two.
General Macarthur spoke suddenly and explosively. "Sorry to hear about your wife, Rogers.
Doctor's just been telling us."
Rogers inclined his head.
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." He took up the empty bacon dish and went out.
Again there was silence.
III On the terrace outside Philip Lombard said:
"About this motor boat -"
Blore looked at him. Blore nodded his head.
He said: "I know what you're thinking, Mr. Lombard. I've asked myself the same question.
Motor boat ought to have been here nigh on two hours ago.
It hasn't come?
Why?"
"Found the answer?" asked Lombard.
"It's not an accident - that's what I say.
It's part and parcel of the whole business.
It's all bound up together."