Poisoned Chocolates Case Read Online Free PDF Page B

you think it was stolen with the actual intention of putting it to the purpose for which it was used? ” asked Alicia Dammers.
    “It seems like it, madam. And something kept holding the murderer up.”
    As regards the wrapper, Mr. Mason had been unable to help at all. This consisted simply of a piece of ordinary, thin brown paper, such as could be bought anywhere, with Sir Eustace's name and address hand - printed on it in neat capitals. Apparently there was nothing to be learnt from it at all. The postmark showed that it had been despatched by the nine - thirty p.m. post from the post office in Southampton Street, Strand.
    “There is a collection at 8.30 and another at 9.30,” Moresby explained, “so it must have been posted between those two times. The packet was quite small enough to go into the opening for letters. The stamps make up the right value. The post office was shut by then, so it could not have been handed in over the counter. Perhaps you'd care to see it.” The piece of brown paper was handed gravely round.
    “Have you brought the box too, and the other chocolates?” asked Mrs. Fielder - Flemming.
    “No, madam. It was one of Mason's ordinary boxes, and the chocolates have all been used for analysis.”
    “Oh!” Mrs. Fielder - Flemming was plainly disappointed. “I thought there might be finger - prints on it,” she explained.
    “We have already looked for those,” replied Moresby without a flicker.
    There was a pause while the wrapper passed from hand to hand.
    “Naturally, we've made inquiries as to any one seen posting a packet in Southampton Street between half - past eight and half - past nine,” Moresby continued, “but without result. We've also carefully interrogated Sir Eustace Pennefather to discover whether he could throw any light on the question why any one should wish to take his life, or who. Sir Eustace can't give us the faintest idea. Of course we followed up the usual line of inquiry as to who would benefit by his death, but without any helpful results. Most of his possessions go to his wife, who has a divorce suit pending against him; and she's out of the country. We've checked her movements and she's out of the question. Besides,” added Moresby unprofessionally, "she's a very nice lady.
    “And as to fact, all we know is that the murderer probably had some connection with Mason and Sons up to six months ago, and was almost certainly in Southampton Street at some time between eight - thirty and nine - thirty on that particular evening. I'm very much afraid we're up against a brick wall.” Moresby did not add that so were the amateur criminologists in front of him too, but he very distinctly implied it.
    There was a silence.
    “Is that all? ” asked Roger.
    “'That's all, Mr. Sheringham,” Moresby agreed.
    There was another silence.
    “Surely the police have a theory?” Mr. Morton Harrogate Bradley threw out in a detached manner.
    Moresby hesitated perceptibly.
    “Come along, Moresby,” Roger encouraged him. “It's quite a simple theory. I know it.”
    “Well,” said Moresby, thus stimulated, “we're inclined to believe that the crime was the work of a lunatic, or semi - lunatic, possibly quite unknown personally to Sir Eustace. You see ...” Moresby looked a trifle embarrassed. “You see,” he went on bravely, "Sir Eustace's life was a bit, well, we might say hectic, if you'll excuse the word. We think at the Yard that some religious or social maniac took it on himself to rid the world of him, so to speak. Some of his escapades had caused a bit of talk, as you may know.
    "Or it might just be a plain homicidal lunatic, who likes killing people at a distance.
    "There's the Horwood case, you see. Some lunatic sent poisoned chocolates to the Commissioner of Police himself. That caused a lot of attention. We think this case may be an echo of it. A case that creates a good deal of notice is quite often followed by another on exactly the same lines, as I needn't