‘Then you think sir that Mr. Pitzer was poisoned?’
‘It would appear so. There is a slight bitter smell. Clearly our murderer did not have time to swill out the remaining contents of the glass before he left, but then again he probably assumed that everyone would accept that Pitzer had died of natural causes and would have no need to make an examination of the room.’
‘So our visitor pours out two glasses of sherry and slips some poison into one of the glasses. Very neat, I would say.’
‘Poor Pitzer then drinks the lethal concoction, and slumps forward over the desk, and if I am not mistaken, he may well have dropped the glass from his hand onto the floor. You will oblige me by studying the carpet Crabb.’
The constable crouched on the floor, and ran his fingers along the carpet.
‘You are correct sir, there is indeed quite a wet patch here.’
‘Pitzer dropped the glass, and our murderer, disturbed by some noise outside in the hall, picked it up quickly, and replaced it on the tray before leaving in a hurry in case he was discovered.’
‘Well sir, I am quite impressed by your observations, but who could have done such a deed — and why?’
‘That is what we have to discover, — or rather what you have to discover. I have no jurisdiction here in Malvern. It must be a matter for the local constabulary to investigate.’
‘I think we will be a bit out of our depth with this one sir. We don’t tend to have any murders here in Malvern. I’ll have a word with my sergeant. I’m sure he would be most obliged if you were to take over the case sir.’
‘I do not think I am able to comply with your request constable. I am supposed to be here for the water cure, and I had planned to leave tomorrow for Brighton.’
Crabb looked crestfallen. ‘I see sir. Well then that’s a great shame. It looks as though our murderer may escape the gallows. We would be very glad of your experience in these matters sir. Perhaps you could just stay for a day or so until the investigation is under way and we have apprehended the felon?’
‘I’m not so sure constable,’ protested Ravenscroft.
‘We would be grateful for your expertise sir,’ pleaded the constable.
Ravenscroft thought deeply for a moment.
‘As you wish Constable Crabb — but just for a day or so.’
‘That is excellent news sir. You will of course take over the investigation?’ asked Crabb enthusiastically.
‘Very well Constable,’ sighed Ravenscroft. ‘Then let us make a start. If you would have a word with our three guests, inform them as to my true role, but on no account mention that we suspect that Pitzer was murdered. Just say we have to make further enquiries.’
‘I understand sir.’
‘Tell them to go home, but make appointments for us to see each one of them individually tomorrow. Then I suggest you return to your station, inform both your sergeant and the coroner. Then meet me tomorrow morning outside the Tudor at ten o’ clock.’
‘And you sir?’ inquired a relieved Crabb.
‘I will have words with the maid, Susan, before returning to the Tudor.’
‘Sit down here Susan,’ said Ravenscroft indicating a seat on the sofa. ‘I believe that Constable Crabb may have told you that we are making enquiries into the death of your master.’
‘Yes sir,’ replied the maid dabbing the corner of her eye with a handkerchief.
‘I realise that you have suffered an unpleasant shock, but I would like to ask you a few questions, if you feel you can manage that?’ asked Ravenscroft, trying to sound as sympathetic as he could as he sat down beside her.
‘Yes sir. I will do my best.’
‘I’m sure you will. How long have you been working for Mr. and Mrs. Pitzer?’
‘For about ten years, sir. I came first as a scullery maid. After a few months Mrs. Pitzer asked me to be her personal maid.’
‘Did Mr. and Mrs Pitzer ever argue or quarrel?’
‘Oh, no sir, they were very much devoted to one another. There was never anything like that.’
‘Would you say that your master was the kind of man to have any enemies?’
‘Enemies sir? Why bless me sir, everyone seemed to like Mr. Pitzer. I never heard anyone have a bad thing to say against him.’
‘Did Mr. and Mrs Pitzer have any family? I see no evidence in any of the photographs on display.’
‘No sir. There was never any talk of a family or such like.’
Ravenscroft paused as the maid dabbed her tearful eyes with her handkerchief.
‘I want to turn to the events of earlier this evening. Did anyone, other than the dinner guests, visit the house either late this afternoon, or earlier this evening?’
‘No sir. No one called.’
‘Are you sure?’ asked Ravenscroft moving closer to the maid.
‘Quite sure sir. Mr. Pitzer received no one. There was only the boy with the letter.’
‘The boy with the letter?’
‘Yes sir. A boy came with a letter for Mr. Pitzer.’
‘What time was this?’
‘About half past four, sir. I told the boy to wait whilst I took the letter into Mr. Pitzer.’
‘What happened next? What did your master do with the letter?’ asked Ravenscroft anxious to learn more.
‘He read the letter and gave me a sixpence to give to the boy to send him away.’
‘Had you ever seen the boy before?’
‘No sir. He must have been someone from the town.’
‘Tell me Susan, how did Mr. Pitzer seem when he read the letter?’
‘I don’t understand sir.’
‘Did he seem angry or displeased?’
‘No sir. He just read the letter and placed it on his desk. He did say that on no account was he to be disturbed until dinner time.’
‘I see’ said Ravenscroft standing up, ‘You have been most helpful Susan.’
‘Can I go now sir?’
‘One more question. You say that no one else came to the house after the boy left?’
‘That’s correct sir.’
‘During the evening you would have had cause to pass by the study many times. Did you, at any time, hear voices coming from inside? Think carefully.’
‘No sir, I heard no voices.’
‘Did you hear any other noises from inside the room?’
‘No sir. There was only the sound of something falling.’
‘Falling?’
‘Yes, it sounded as though Mr. Pitzer had dropped something on the floor.’
‘Excellent, Susan, you are doing very well. Tell me at about what time you heard this noise?’
‘At six thirty sir,’ replied the maid, a puzzled expression on her face.
‘How can you be sure as to the exact time?’
‘Why, by the clock in the hallway sir. I remember it chiming the half hour, just after I heard the noise.’
‘And you did not go into the study to investigate what had caused the noise?’
‘No sir. Mister Pitzer had left strict instructions that he was not to be disturbed, on any account. I did tap on the door, but heard nothing.’
‘Thank you Susan. I am obliged to you for all your assistance. I think it would be better if you returned to your mistress. She will have need of you tonight. I will let myself out.’
The maid left the room. Ravenscroft stared into dying flames of the fire for some minutes, deep in thought. It had only been yesterday that he had spoken with Pitzer on the train, now here he was in the poor man’s house inquiring into the nature of his demise. It was ironic that his holiday now looked more likely to take second place to his investigations. Quite why he had been persuaded to take on the task of solving the crime, by the youthful enthusiastic constable, he was at a loss to comprehend. Then he returned once more to the study where he made a search through the drawers of the desk, before casting a final look round the room.
A few minutes later he began to make his way back along the dimly lit road in the direction of Great Malvern. The gas lamps threw pools of light onto the path before him, each one guiding him onwards towards the next, like islands in a sea of darkness. He drew the collar of his coat tighter round his neck, and pulled down his hat to protect him from the wind that blew off the common. Eventually the lights of the town came into view.