No Wind of Blame Read online

  ‘And did you happen to compare his watch with one of the clocks in the house?’ inquired the Inspector.

  ‘Why, whatever should I do that for?’ said Mrs Phelps. ‘I’m sure I’d no reason to doubt the Prince’s word! I just showed him into the doctor’s sitting-room, and begged him to take a chair, and it can’t have been more than ten minutes, or perhaps a quarter of an hour, before the doctor got back, though that I won’t swear to.’

  ‘That’s all I wanted to know,’ said the Inspector, and took his leave of her.

  ‘Well,’ said Sergeant Wake, when they reached the street again, ‘that certainly makes the Prince’s alibi look a bit funny.’

  ‘Yes, and it makes the local police-work here look a bit funny, too,’ said Hemingway. ‘Nice way to take evidence! If you ask me, the Prince hasn’t got an alibi at all – to put it no stronger! Very fishy it looks, him calling attention to the time, as registered, by his own watch! Now we’ll make a few inquiries, my lad, and see what’s what!’

  Eleven

  The inquiries made by Inspector Hemingway in Stilhurst village were fruitless. The only person who seemed to have seen Vicky’s sports-car draw up outside the doctor’s house had such hazy ideas of the time that Hemingway gave him up in disgust. He was about to get into the police-car again when the constable nodded towards a car which had drawn up outside the post office. ‘That’s the doctor,’ he said.

  Hemingway did not follow Chester into the post office, which was also the grocery, but waited by his car until he returned to it. When he presently made himself known to Chester, the doctor showed no surprise, but merely asked in what way he could be of use.

  ‘Well, sir, I’m checking up on certain times,’ Hemingway explained. ‘If you can tell me when you got back to your house on Sunday afternoon, it might help me a lot.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I don’t think I can. It was some time after five – possibly nearly half past five, for I was kept longer than I had foreseen.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said the Inspector, with a comical look that drew a smile from Chester.

  ‘I’m really very sorry. Hullo, Hugh!’

  The Inspector turned, as Hugh Dering came strolling across the street. Dr Chester said: ‘You seem to have constituted yourself legal adviser up at Palings, so perhaps you’d like to be introduced to Inspector Hemingway, from Scotland Yard. This is Mr Dering, Inspector.’

  The Inspector had an excellent memory, and he said at once: ‘Are you the gentleman who arrived at Palings shortly after the murder?’

  ‘Me,’ said Hugh cheerfully. ‘Don’t ask me if I’m sure I didn’t see a suspicious stranger, because I don’t think I can bear it! Are you on your way to Palings now? Can I give you a lift? My car’s just down the street.’

  ‘Well, that’s very kind of you, sir. I’ll be glad to go along with you. I’ll just have a word with my Sergeant, if you’ll wait a minute.’

  Hugh nodded, and watched him walk over to the police-car. ‘I hoped this wasn’t going to happen,’ he remarked.

  ‘It was bound to. The gentleman from Scotland Yard seems a decent chap, however. How are they, up at Palings?’

  ‘I haven’t been there today. They were all right last night. I suppose you’ve heard that one of the late Fanshawe’s rifles was found in the shrubbery?’

  ‘Yes, I’d heard, but I don’t know that I set much store by it.’

  The Inspector, having given his Sergeant certain instructions, came walking back to them, and went off down the street with Hugh to where Hugh’s car was parked.

  ‘Nasty case, Inspector,’ said Hugh, opening the door for him.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know about that, sir!’ Hemingway replied. ‘It’s got some very classy features, besides showing me a bit of real high life. Foreign princes,’ he added, as Hugh looked a trifle mystified.

  Hugh laughed, and got into the car beside him. ‘I hope you’ll find him up to standard. Have you got a sense of humour?’

  An intelligent eye was cocked at him. ‘Will I need one?’

  ‘Absolutely essential. Your predecessor suffered from a total lack of it.’

  ‘I can see it’s a fortunate thing I met you,’ said the Inspector. ‘I’m not like some detectives: I’m grateful for a bit of help. Matter of fact, I came with you because there’s something I shouldn’t be at all surprised if you could put me right on.’

  ‘What is it?’ asked Hugh, letting in his clutch.

  ‘How do you pronounce this Prince’s unnatural name?’

  Hugh grinned appreciatively. ‘It’s a privilege to know you, Inspector. Varasashvili.’

  The Inspector sighed. ‘Wonderful what foreigners can get their tongues round, isn’t it? Now, don’t you drive too fast, sir, because I’m a very nervous man. Besides, it isn’t often I get a free ride, and I’m enjoying myself.’

  ‘Also you want to take in the features of the countryside,’ said Hugh, slowing to a sedate pace.

  ‘That’s right, I do,’ replied the Inspector. ‘Décor and scenery are my specialities. Where would this road lead to, supposing we were to follow it?’

  ‘To Kershaw, eventually. But we turn off to the right.’

  ‘I remember that. How long do you reckon it takes you to drive from Palings to Stilhurst?’

  ‘Ten minutes, possibly a little less.’

  ‘You’re very helpful,’ said the Inspector. ‘Whereabouts is Oaklands Farm?’

  ‘Towards Kershaw. Do you want me to take you there?’

  ‘No, but it’s put me in mind of another thing I want to ask you. They tell me you were at that shoot on Saturday. What do you reckon were the rights of that little mix-up?’

  ‘Oh, lord, are you on to that?’ said Hugh. ‘I don’t believe it has the least bearing on the case. Carter was just the sort of vague ass who would stray about and get himself shot.’

  ‘Is that so? Well, it’s a wonder to me there aren’t more accidents at shoots. Where does that lane lead to?’

  ‘A farm. It’s a dead end.’

  ‘Oh! Not much traffic down it?’

  ‘None at all on a Sunday.’ Hugh cast him a flickering smile. ‘Quite safe to park a car there.’

  The Inspector shook his head admiringly. ‘It’s wonderful the way you read what’s in my mind, sir.’

  The gates of the Dower House came into sight upon the left-hand side of the road, and beyond them the little humpbacked bridge over the stream. The lane curved away to the right, and the Inspector inquired whether they were running beside the grounds of Palings. Hugh nodded, and presently pointed out the entrance to the garage. Fifty yards on, he turned the car in at the main gate, and drove up the neat avenue to the front door.

  ‘Well, here we are,’ Hugh said. He got out of the car, and was just about to ring the bell when Vicky came round the corner of the house. ‘You can prepare yourself for the first shock, Inspector,’ he said. ‘Hullo, Vicky! Gone into half-mourning?’

  Vicky, who was wearing a frock of white organdie with an artless sash of black velvet ribbon with immensely long ends, replied: ‘Oh, I think white is so suitable for a young girl don’t you? I began to feel like Anna Karenina, so I changed, because it was all very exhausting.’

  The Inspector had climbed out of the car, and was regarding Vicky with frank approbation. Hugh said: ‘Let me introduce Inspector Hemingway, of Scotland Yard, Miss Fanshawe.’

  ‘From Scotland Yard?’ repeated Vicky, turning a face of the deepest reproach towards Hugh. ‘What a viperous thing to do! Oh, I think you’re the most repellent creature I’ve ever met! In fact, not merely sub-human, but a snake and a traitor as well!’

  ‘One of your dramatic days, I see,’ said Hugh, quite unmoved. ‘Don’t mind the Inspector, will you? And get it out of your head that I sent for him: all I did was to give him a lift from the