“Mrs. Constable,” began Stella Godfrey; the shadows under her eyes had deepened. “She’s — they’ve taken her away?”
“Yes,” said Moley gravely. “She’s committed suicide. At least you ought to be thankful that there’s not another murder to complicate matters.”
“How horrible,” shuddered Mrs. Godfrey. “She was so — so lonely.”
“Frightfully sorry to intrude at such a time,” murmured Ellery. “Violence breeds violence, and no doubt you’re all heartily sick of the whole lot of us. Nevertheless, Mrs. Godfrey, we have a certain duty to perform; and as a matter of fact the more co-operation we get from you the sooner you’ll be rid of us.”
“What do you mean?” she said slowly.
“We believe the time has come to put our cards plainly and openly on the table. Your silence has put us to considerable trouble, but fortunately we’ve been able to learn nearly all the truth in other ways. Please believe me when I say that it’s no longer necessary for you to keep silent.”
The dark woman’s hand groped for her husband’s. “All right,” said Godfrey suddenly. “That’s fair enough. How much do you know?”
“As far as Marco and Mrs. Godfrey are concerned,” said Ellery regretfully, “everything.”
Mrs. Godfrey put her other hand to her throat. “How did you—?”
“We overheard you confess your indiscretion to Mr. Godfrey. A painful breach of hospitality, but we had no choice.”
Her eyes fell; dark color dyed her face. Godfrey said coldly: “We won’t discuss the ethics of the situation. I hope this isn’t for public consumption?”
“Reporters haven’t been told anything,” said Moley. “Come on, Mr. Queen. What’s on your mind?”
“Naturally,” said Ellery, “this is strictly among the five of us... Mrs. Godfrey.”
“Yes?” Then she flung her head up and returned his gaze.
“That’s better,” smiled Ellery. “John Marco was blackmailing you, was he not?”
He watched husband and wife intently. If he had expected Mrs. Godfrey to react with fear, and the millionaire with shock or anger, he was disappointed. It was plain that since the confessional scene in the garden the night before the woman had unburdened herself completely. In a way, he was glad; it simplified matters.
She said: “Yes,” at once, and Walter Godfrey snapped: “Mrs. Godfrey has told me everything, Queen. What’s the point?”
“How many times did you pay him money, Mrs. Godfrey?”
“Five, six. I don’t remember. First in the city, then here.”
“Substantial sums?”
“Quite.” They could hardly hear her voice.
“Come to the point!” rasped Walter Godfrey.
“But your personal bank-accounts are still not exhausted?”
“My wife has a considerable fortune in her own name! Will you come to the point?” shouted Godfrey.
“Please, Mr. Godfrey; I’m asking these questions out of no morbid curiosity, I assure you. Now, Mrs. Godfrey, have you ever told any one — excepting your husband, of course — of this connection between you and Marco, of the money you’ve been paying over to him?”
She whispered, “No.”
“Just a minute, Mr. Queen.” The Inspector leaned forward, and Ellery looked vaguely irritated. “Mrs. Godfrey, I want you to clear up that business of your visit to Marco’s room Saturday night.”
“Oh,” she said faintly. “I—”
“Mrs. Godfrey has told me all about that,” snarled Godfrey. “She went there to plead with him. Earlier in the day he had given her an ultimatum; she was to pay him a very large sum on Monday. She went to his room Saturday night to beg him to stop his demands. She was afraid she could not touch any more money without my discovering it.”
“Yes,” whispered the dark woman. “I... I almost went on my knees to him, begged him... He was cruel. Then I... I asked him about Mrs. Constable, Mrs. Munn. He told me to mind my own business. In my house!” Her face flamed. “And he called me...”
“Yes, yes,” said Ellery hurriedly. “That’s quite satisfactory, eh, Inspector? Now, Mrs. Godfrey, you’re sure no one else knows that you’ve been paying Marco hush-money?”
“No one. Oh, I’m sure no one—”
Rosa said tightly from the open door to Mrs. Godfrey’s boudoir: “I’m sorry, mother, I couldn’t help hearing... That’s not true, Mr. Queen. Mother isn’t telling a lie; she just doesn’t realize how transparent she’s been. To everyone but father, who’s been blind.”
“Oh, Rosa,” moaned Stella Godfrey, and the girl went swiftly to her and caught her in brown arms. Godfrey winced and muttered as he turned away a little.
“What is this?” exploded Moley. “We are learnin’ things! You mean you knew all this was going on between your mother and Marco, Miss Godfrey?”
Rosa murmured: “There, darling,” to her sobbing mother and said quietly: “Yes. No one had to tell me. I’m a woman, and I have eyes. Besides, mother is a poor actress. Every hour of torture she’s gone through since that beast came up here I’ve shared in secret. Of course I knew. We all knew. I’m positive David saw it clearly. I think even Earle — Earle! — knows. And of course all the servants... Oh, mother, mother, why didn’t you confide in me?”
“Then... but—” gasped Stella Godfrey, “that affair between you and—”
“Rosa!” cried the millionaire.
Rosa whispered: “I had to do something. Distract his attention. Anything... I didn’t even dare confide in David, and I’ve always told him everything.
It... it was just a job I felt I had to do alone. Oh, I know I was silly and wrong; I should have gone to mother, to father, made every one face the issue squarely. But like a fool I tried—”
“A gallant fool, at any rate,” said Judge Macklin softly. His eyes were shining.
“Well!” said Ellery, drawing a deep breath. “I’ll wager this will be comforting news to young Mr. Cort... To proceed, for we may not have as much time as we think. Mrs. Godfrey, have you been approached by a mysterious person since the murder of Marco — approached to pay further blackmail for the surrender of whatever tangible evidence Marco possessed of your relationship with him?”
“No!” She was obviously terrified at the mere thought, and she clung to Rosa’s hand as if she were a child.
“What would you do if such a demand should suddenly be made of you?”
“I—”
“Fight!” thundered Godfrey. “Fight it out.” His sharp little eyes glittered. “Look here, Queen, you’ve something up your sleeve. I’ve been watching you, and I like your style. Is this a request for co-operation?”
“It is.”
“Then you’ve got it. Stella, please calm yourself. We’re going to be sensible about this. These people know more about such things than we do and I’m sure they’ll be discreet.”
“Excellent,” said Ellery heartily. “Now, some one has secured possession of the proofs of Mrs. Godfrey’s affair with the dead man. That person will unquestionably get in touch with you, Mrs. Godfrey, at any moment, demanding a lump settlement in return for those proofs. If you do exactly as we tell you, it’s quite possible we may catch your blackmailer and clear away an important obstruction to the solution of this case.”