‘And content himself with forbidding the banns at a distance?’
‘Yes — though it doesn’t seem the most effective way.’
‘No? But the banns have been fairly effectively forbidden,
haven’t they?’
‘Yes. But — are you casting Henry for the part of the murderer?’
‘I should like to. But I don’t feel I can, somehow.! ‘No?’
‘No. That’s why I wanted to find out whether you thought, Henry was subtle. You don’t, and I agree with you. I don’t think Henry has the brains to have murdered Paul Alexis.’
Chapter XIII. Evidence Of Trouble Somewhere
‘Fool, would thy virtue shame and crush me down;
And make a grateful blushing bond-slave of me?’
— Death’s Jest-Book
Tuesday 23 June
Loan PETER WIMSEY, reading his Morning Star over the eggs and bacon, felt better than he had done for some weeks. The Morning Star had come up’ to scratch nobly, and was offering £100, reward for information about the razor that had slain Paul Alexis. Bunter, returning from his fruitless journey to Eastbourne, had come on to join his master at Wilvercombe, bringing with him a fresh supply of shirts, collars, and, other; garments. Harriet Vane had danced with Lord Peter in a wine-coloured frock. Wimsey considered, rightly, that when, a woman takes a man’s advice about the purchase of clothes, it is a sign that she is not indifferent to his opinion. Various women, at various times and in various quarters of the globe, had clothed themselves by Wimsey’s advice and: sometimes also at his expense — but then, he had fully expected them to do so. He had not expected it of Harriet, and was as disproportionately surprised and pleased as if he had picked up a sovereign in the streets of Aberdeen. Like all male creatures, Wimsey was a simple soul at bottom.
Not only had he this satisfactory past and present to contemplate; he anticipated an interesting day. Harriet had consented to walk with him that afternoon from the Flat-Iron to Darley in search of clues. Low-water being billed to take place at 4.45, they had arranged to drive out to the Flat-Iron, arriving there at 3.30. After a little light refresh merit, the expedition would set out, searching conscientiously for whatever the shore might, have to show them, while Bunter brought the car back by the road to Hinks’s Lane; after which all three would return to their base at Wilvercombe in their original formation. It was all very clear, except that Harriet did not see — and said as much — what clues were likely to remain on the open shore after nearly a week of exceptionally high tides. She admitted, however, that she needed exercise and that walking was better exercise than most.
And — most immediate of pleasant things to look forward to — Harriet had further agreed to receive Lord Peter Wimsey after breakfast at the Resplendent, for a conference. It was necessary, in Wimsey’s opinion, that the progress made so far should be tabulated and brought into some sort of order. Ten o’clock was the hour fixed for this meeting, and Wimsey was lingering lovingly over his bacon and eggs, so as to leave no restless and unfilled moment in his morning. By which it may be seen that his lordship had reached that time of life when a man can extract an Epicurean enjoyment even from his own passions — the halcyon period between the self-tormenting exuberance of youth and the fretful carpe diem of approaching senility.
The great wind had fallen at last. It had rained a little during the night, but now the sky was fair again, with only the gentlest of breezes ruffling the blue expanse of sea that was visible from the Bellevue’s dining-room windows. Inspector Umpelty had been out with his helpers to explore the Grinders at “four o’clock that morning, and had just looked in on Wimsey to say that they had found nothing yet.
‘And why it hasn’t come ashore somewhere before this, I don’t know,’ he grumbled. ‘We’ve had a look-out kept all along the coast from Fishy Ness right up to Seahampton and on both sides of the estuary. Must have got hooked up with something. If we don’t get it within another week, we’ll have to give it up. Can’t waste public money fishing for drowned dagoes. The ratepayers grumble enough as it is, and we can’t keep the witnesses hanging round here for ever. Well, so long. We shall have another shot at low tide.’
At ten o’clock Wimsey and his collaborator sat down before a neat pile of scribbling paper. Harriet was inclined to be brief and businesslike.
‘What system are we going to adopt about this? Do you favour the Michael Finsbury method by double entry as in The Wrong Box? Or one of those charts made out in columns, with headings for “Suspect”, “Alibi”, “Witnesses”, “Motive” and so on, worked out in percentages?’
‘Oh, don’t let’s have anything that means ruling a lot of lines and doing arithmetic. Let’s behave like your Robert Templeton, and make a schedule of Things to be Noted and Things to be Done. That only means two columns.’
‘Very well, I’m glad you approve of it. I always make Templeton start with the corpse?
‘Right. Here goes—’
PAUL ALEXIS (GOLDSCHMIDT)
Things to be Noted
1. Russian by birth; English by adoption, partly American by education, Early, history unknown, but claimed to be, War refugee of noble descent.
Things to be Done
2. Investigate origin (N.B., The only people who knew, much about him are dead, and any way, this is a, job for the police. And does it really matter? Probably not, unless Mrs Weldon’s bolshevik theory is correct.)
Things to be Noted
1. Personal characteristics: Said to be delicate arthritis?); good dancer; vain of his appearance;
wore beard on account of tendency to pimples; careful of his dress, but — flamboyant in taste.
Said to be romantic and emotional.
2. Had he the temperament to commit suicide? Find out if possible from colleagues and/or his mistress
Things to be Noted
3. In February last, engaged himself To marry Mrs Weldon, a rich widow Apparently desirous to secure himself against loss of profession consequent on increasing ill health.
Not anxious to push on marriageon account of opposition put forward by widow’s son (or possibly on account of personal reluctance). Marriage fixed for fortnight or so after time of P.A.’s death.
Things to be Done
3. Find out if Alexis really took any steps about the marriage at all
Things to be Noted