Is there anything at all, however remote—I don’t care how absurd—which would provide a motive for the killing of Sarah Gittings?
For this second crime is subsidiary to that.
That I know.
Think, now; some remote family trouble, some secret she knew, even some scene at which she happened to be present.”
“We don’t have family scenes, Inspector.”
“Nonsense!
Every family has them.”
“There is nothing, I assure you.
Walter Somers doesn’t hit it off with his stepmother, but they don’t quarrel.
They simply keep apart.”
“And Mr. Blake?”
“Why should he quarrel with them?
They have been very good to him.
I think Mrs. Somers even makes him a small allowance, and a man doesn’t quarrel with his bread and butter.”
“Tell me something about the Somers family.
I know they are wealthy. What else?”
“Howard has been married twice.
His first wife eloped with another man, and died in Europe many years ago.
After her death he married my cousin, Katherine.
They have one child, Judy, who is here.
And they are very happy.”
“And that’s the whole story?”
“Yes, except that Howard Somers is in bad health.
He has had at least one attack of angina pectoris.
He had that here last year, while I was abroad with his family.
He almost died, and I suppose the end is only a question of time.”
“I see.
How old a man is he?”
“Almost sixty.
Quite a handsome man.”
“Now, about this sick spell.
When you say he was sick here, do you mean in this house?”
“No.
The house was closed.
He was at a hotel, the Imperial.
Sarah Gittings came down to take care of him.”
“And Mr. Blake?
Was he here at that time?”
“He was in Maine.
He has a small cottage there.”
I believe now that certain of these interrogations were purely idle, designed to put me off my guard. For the next instant, in the same tone, he asked me a question so unexpected that it found me totally unprepared for it.
“And when did you give Mr. Blake the walking stick which belonged to your grandfather?”
I must have showed my agitation, for he smiled.
“Come, come,” he said.
“You’re a poor witness for the defense, Miss Bell!
I see Amos has told the truth.
Show a darky a police badge and he’ll come clean.
How long has Mr. Blake had that cane?”
“Since some time in the early spring.
In March.”