Chapter 22 seven

Seeing Colonel Race really made Mary.Ristabert ate a heron, and she cried: My dear, I have not seen you since that time in Allahabad when you mysteriously left us.What gust of wind brought you here?You must not have come to see me, you have always been in the Three Treasures Hall for nothing.Come on, if you have anything to say, you don't need to use diplomatic rhetoric. Mary, it's a waste of time to use diplomatic rhetoric with you.I've always admired how your head is like an X-ray machine. Be good, don't talk nonsense, let's get straight to the point. Reis laughed. The maid who brought me in was called Betty.Archdale?he asked.

That's right!A true Londoner.Don't think she is a famous female spy in Europe, anyway, I don't believe it. No, no, there is no such thing. Don't think of her as our underground staff, I won't believe it either. Yes, she was just a parlor maid. So, since when did you become interested in a simple parlor maid?It cannot be said that Betty is innocent, she is quite slippery. I thought, said Colonel Race, that she might be able to tell me something. You mean, talk to her calmly?I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to know anything.Because whenever something happened at home, she was very clever at eavesdropping by the door.Please tell me what should I do?

Give me a drink first, politely, and ring for Betty to get it. And when Betty brought the drink? Just please avoid it when she brings it. Tell me to eavesdrop outside the door? As you wish. In this way I can hear the latest crisis in Europe and the inside story of it. I'm afraid not.This has nothing to do with the political situation. Sorry, sorry!Well, that's what I'll do! Mrs. Ristabert was forty-nine, brunette and lively.She rang the bell and told her pretty maid to bring Colonel Race a glass of whiskey and a bottle of soda. When BettyMrs Ristabert was standing by the door leading into the drawing room when Archdale returned to the room with the tray and drink.

Colonel Race would like to ask you a few questions.She finished speaking and walked out. Betty's bold and guarded eyes fell on this tall, gray-haired soldier.He took the glass from the tray and smiled. Have you read today's newspaper?he asks. Look, sir.Betty looked at him cautiously and said. See George.Any news of Mr. Button's death at the Luxembourg Hotel last night? Ah, yes, sir.Betty's eyes flickered with that schadenfreude look at the news of the society, how terrible! You worked at his house, didn't you? Yes, sir, I left shortly after Mrs. Barton's death last winter.

She also died at the Luxembourg Hotel. Betty nodded: Kind of ridiculous, isn't it, sir? Reis didn't find it ridiculous, but he understood that Betty had something to say.He said seriously: I can see that you have a good head.You must be able to see some clues. Betty clapped her hands together, and the restraint just now disappeared in an instant: He was also killed, right?The newspapers didn't make it very clear. Why do you say he was killed too?The jury had said Mrs Barton had committed suicide. She glanced at him quickly out of the corner of her eye.In spite of his age he seemed to her very presentable, a quiet, genuine gentleman.The kind of gentleman who would give you a gold piece when you were young.That's funny, I've never seen what a gold coin looks like!What is he trying to do?

She said solemnly: Yes, sir. You never thought it was suicide? Oh yes sir.I don't think I really don't think so. Very interesting, very interesting.Why do you think it's not suicide? She hesitated, fingering the apron unconsciously. Tell me, this might be important. He spoke very kindly and solemnly, which made her feel that her status had suddenly been elevated, and she wanted to help him.Anyway, Rosemary.Barton's death could not be hidden from her, she was not deceived! She was murdered, sir, wasn't she? It seems possible.But how do you think she was murdered?

This, said Chandy stammering, I heard one day What did you hear? His tone was calm but encouraging. I never eavesdropped at the door when the door was open, I didn't like to do that.Betty said sternly, but they were talking loudly as I was carrying a tray of silverware across the hall to the dining room.Mrs. Barton said Anthony.Brown is not his real name.He was angry, Mr. Brown was really angry.He is so good-looking and usually so gentle, I really didn't expect him to be so angry.He said he wanted to break her face!Then he said that if she didn't do what he said, he'd kill her.That's what he said!Then Miss Alice came downstairs, and I didn't listen any more.I didn't think much about it at the time.But later it was said that she committed suicide at that banquet, and he was also present at the banquet, which made my hair stand on end. This is not an exaggeration at all!

Did you say something? Betty shook her head: I don't want the police to come to my troubles, anyway, I don't know anything, really.Maybe if I said something, I'd be killed too, or go to hell as they say. I understand, Lace paused, and then said softly: So you give George.Mr. Barton wrote an anonymous letter? She stared at him dumbfounded.He could detect no uneasiness, no guilt in her eyes, except sheer astonishment. I?Write to Mr. Button?I never wrote it. Say it without fear.Well done.Such a letter not only warned him, but would not involve himself in it.You are doing very smart.

But I haven't written, sir.It never occurred to me to do this.You mean to write to Mr. Barton that his wife was murdered?I never thought of it that way! She denied it so earnestly that Lace's conviction was shaken.It would be natural and logical if she had written the letters.However, she refused to admit it, without making a fuss or feeling the slightest bit uneasy; she denied it so calmly, without any inappropriate protest.He had no choice but to believe her words. He changed the subject. Have you ever told anyone about these things? She shook her head. I never told anyone.Honestly, sir, I'm terrified.I think I'd better keep my mouth shut.I want to forget it, the only time I mentioned it was when I informed Mrs. Drake that I wanted to leave.She was always making such a fuss, it was unbearable.She can't wait to find me a wilderness where even a bus can't reach, and she will be happy to bury me there!When I mentioned that I was leaving, she was upset and complained about how often I broke things.I sarcastically said that I could always find a family where no one was slaughtered anyway, and I was scared when I said that, but she didn't really care.Maybe then I should have spoken out, but I couldn't.I mean, maybe what I heard was just a joke.People can say anything.Mr. Brown has always been a good man, and he likes to tell jokes.So I can't speak, can't you, sir?

Reese thought she was doing the right thing.Then he said: Mrs. Barton said that Brown was not his real name, so did she say what his real name was? She said it because he said: don't mention Tony's name again.Let me see, what was that name?The name Tony made me think of a chef's cherry sauce at the time. Tony.Cheriton?Chrabor? She shook her head. More exaggerated than the name.It starts with the letter M, which sounds like a foreign name. Don't worry, you may be able to remember.Let me know when you remember.Here is my business card with my address on it.If you remember that name, write to me at the address.

He handed her a business card and a one pound note. I will, sir, thank you, sir. What a gentleman, she thought, as she ran down the stairs.He gave a pound instead of ten shillings, if only he had lived in those days when gold coins were used Mary.Ristabert went back into the room. How are you doing? Yes, but there is one more problem to solve.Can you use your talent and help me come up with a name for cherry jam? What a strange question! Think about it, Mary.I'm a complete layman with housework.Please think about how to make jam, especially cherry jam. Cherry sauce is rarely made by ordinary people. why? Well, because it tends to be overly sweet, unless you use that kind of cooking cherries, Morelli cherries. Reis exclaimed. that's it!I bet it's the name.Goodbye, Mary, I am very grateful to you.Can I ring the bell for Betty to come and take me out? As he hurried out of the house, Mrs. Ristabert called after him: Ungrateful guy!Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on? He turned and shouted: I'll tell you later. God knows.Mrs. Ristabert muttered. Betty was waiting downstairs with Reese's top hat and cane. He thanked her and went out the door.He paused again on the doorstep: I remembered, he said, that name was Morelli, wasn't it? Betty's face suddenly brightened: Exactly, sir.That's the name.Tony.Morelli, that was the name he had told her to forget.He also said he had been in prison. Reis smiled and walked down the steps. He made a call to Inspector Kemp from the nearest phone booth.The conversation was brief but satisfying.Camb said: I'll send a telegram right away.We'll have to see what the call back says.If you're right, that's a real advance. I think I'm right.The cause and effect are very clear.