‘Didn’t Lord Remnant employ any security guards?’ Antonia asked.
‘He did, but it was their night off. There were two of them — unreliable as they come. They returned about midnight, blind drunk. I don’t think they quite took in what had happened. They held their hands to their foreheads in salute. I believe one of them tried to kiss Clarissa. She sacked them the very next day.’
‘What did Stephan say? I mean when he recovered?’ Payne asked. ‘Did he actually admit killing his stepfather?’
‘He said he didn’t remember a thing. He said he must have done it. He actually got rather excited about it. He seemed pleased. He wanted to know every detail.’
‘Where is Stephan now?’
‘At an ultra-expensive place called Sans Souci. He’s already been there a couple of times. Clarissa says they are used to Stephan and his hallucinations there. Which means that if he brags about killing his stepfather, they will think nothing of it.’
‘Why did you send the tape to Gerard Fenwick?’ Payne asked after a pause. ‘You couldn’t have wanted your grandson exposed as a murderer, surely?’
‘No, of course not. That’s the last thing I’d ever want.’ Suddenly Hortense Tilling sat up. She took off her glasses. ‘I have a confession to make. Please, don’t be angry with me. I never sent the tape.’
‘But you said-’
‘I know I let you believe it was me. I did so because I was curious to know what’s been happening. Who’s been saying what and to whom. I’ve been sick with anxiety. I rather hoped you’d tell me more. I am sorry I misled you. I felt I needed to talk to someone. I rather liked your faces. I really did. That’s God’s truth.’
Payne stared back at her. ‘But if you didn’t send the tape, who did?’
‘I left the camera on a side table. For several minutes there was general confusion. Augustine broke down and wept. Then the other two servants appeared — the two women. They also started weeping and wailing and tearing their hair … Then — then I saw-’ Hortense broke off. ‘Oh dear, it must have been her! Yes! I am sure it’s her.’
‘Who?’
‘Louise. Louise Hunter. I saw Louise Hunter pick up the camera. She stood looking down at it. She has one of those big expressionless faces … She must have taken the film out. I don’t think she likes Clarissa. Clarissa was a bit sharp with her … I didn’t see her do it, but she must have done!’
‘But the postmark on the padded envelope was Kensington and Chelsea,’ Payne objected. ‘You are the only one of the house party who lives in Kensington.’
‘Louise comes to Kensington quite often. I have bumped into her several times. She goes to the V amp;A and other museums. There is also a tea place she goes to. Every Thursday afternoon, she told me. Belarus tearooms called Matroni. Actually,’ Hortense said, ‘I have seen her sitting at a table by the window, sipping tea out of a saucer and staring glassily at the samovar. I don’t think she is a particularly contented woman.’
18
Stephan Farrar sat frowning down at his mobile phone. ‘Mummy isn’t answering. She’s the busiest woman in the world. She hasn’t got a moment to spare. That’s why I’m here, I suppose?’
‘That indeed is the reason, dear,’ Nurse Highgrove said comfortably. She plumped the pillows and smoothed the bedspread.
‘I must speak to her. I’ve remembered something. It’s rather urgent, actually. Perhaps I could speak to someone else. Someone who was at La Sorciere when Daddy R. died? Let me see.’ He looked down at his mobile once more. ‘I’ve got Auntie Lou’s number. And Gloves’s. Now, shall I ring Gloves or shall I ring Auntie Lou?’
He was a slender youth who looked about fourteen, with hair the colour of pale butter, cut en brosse, a small nose, a wide mouth and startlingly bright blue eyes that burnt with a feverish flame. He was wearing dark blue silk pyjamas styled as some sort of uniform. He brought to mind Saint-Exupery’s petit prince.
‘Why don’t you phone both of them?’ Nurse Highgrove suggested. ‘I am sure they will be pleased to hear from you. What are friends for? But wait till you’ve had your tea first, why don’t you?’
‘I don’t want any tea. What I want is a fix.’
‘You know you can’t do that sort of thing here, Stephan.’
‘I can see you’re brimming over with moral indignation, aren’t you, Highgrove?’
‘Not at all. I wouldn’t know what moral indignation was if it hit me on the nose. I don’t want you to make yourself sick, dear, that’s all.’
‘I won’t make myself sick. I’m used to it.’
‘You’re sucking your thumb again, Stephan.’
‘Am I? Sorry. Shall I tell you why I like having a fix, Highgrove? Shall I give you a highly rationalized explanation of my addiction? It’s because I like being the subject and the object, the scientist and the experiment, all at the same time. When I have a fix, I’m setting the spirit free by enslaving the body.’
‘That’s clever talk, but I am not sure I approve of it,’ Nurse Highgrove said briskly. ‘Enslaving the body indeed. Doesn’t sound at all nice. As a matter of fact, I’d rather you didn’t say things like that ever again, Stephan.’
‘I remember there was a dinner at Remnant once — a rather grand dinner party. As it happened I’d taken something earlier on, Diamond Skies, I think, while they were serving cocktails. As soon as we sat down, I removed my black tie and announced that I was in fact a rat, then I got under the table and proceeded to gnaw at the ankles of each guest in turn. I eventually passed out at Princess Michael of Kent’s feet.’ Stephan laughed. ‘Everybody pretended nothing had happened, but I don’t think Daddy R. was amused.’
‘What’s Diamond Skies? No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.’
‘As in “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” — everybody knows what that means.’ There was a pause. ‘I’ve got something on my mind, Highgrove,’ he said.
‘What is it, dear?’
‘You know that I said I killed Daddy R.?’
‘Yes? What about it?’ Nurse Highgrove had already heard the story of the killing of Daddy R. She was a stoutish, grey-haired woman in a neat uniform, with a robust no-nonsense air about her. She not only looked but sounded like an old-fashioned nanny of the tender ogress type. That, indeed, was one of the reasons she had got the job at the clinic.
‘Well, I don’t think I could actually have done it,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘It suddenly came to me.’
‘Shall I tell you something? I never for a moment imagined you killed anyone, dear.’ She patted his arm. ‘A nice boy like you.’
‘Could I have a smoke, do you think? It would help me to concentrate.’
‘You know you can’t, Stephan. It’s not allowed.’
‘I don’t mean Maria-Juana. I mean a cigarette.’
‘Who is Maria-Juana? Oh! I see. You are so naughty, Stephan!’
‘I want a cigarette. I know you smoke. Give me one of your cigarettes, Highgrove. Please.’
‘I am sorry, Stephan, but smoking is not allowed on the premises. Dr Mandrake would be furious. You don’t want to make Dr Mandrake cross, do you?’
‘No.’ Stephan sighed.
‘I might lose my job, you know … What was it you were saying about the murder? I thought it sounded very interesting.’
‘Daddy R. was jolly rich and I always thought how good it would be if he were to die because then Mummy and Uncle Gerry would get everything. I hated Daddy R. because he was a bully and a madman. But I couldn’t have killed him. I thought I did, but I was wrong.’ Stephan frowned. ‘I was at the right place, at the right time, as they say, but I couldn’t have killed him.’
‘A good thing you remembered, dear.’