The Act of Roger Murgatroyd Read Online Free PDF Page B

Rutherford, the well-known actress, who I’m sure needs no introduction, as they say. Then there’s Madge Rolfe, the wife of Dr Rolfe, who’s the gentleman standing to her left.’
    ‘Colonel,’ interrupted Trubshawe, ‘Rolfe and I
have
met. You forget, it was he who drove over to my cottage with young Duckworth.’
    ‘Ah, yes, yes, yes, course it was. Foolish of me. Frightful thing, old age. Now who else haven’t you been introduced to yet? Oh yes, my wife Mary.’
    ‘How d’you do, Mrs ffolkes?’
    ‘How d’you do, Inspector Trubshawe?’
    ‘Snap!’ said the policeman, and they both smiled, as one does.
    ‘And, of course, Chitty, my butler.’
    ‘Chitty.’
    ‘Sir.’
    ‘As for my daughter Selina,’ the Colonel went on, ‘I’m afraid …’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘She really was awfully attached to Gentry, so his murder has come as a tremendous shock to her. She’s gone up to her room to rest. Naturally, if you insist on her being here, I can always –’
    ‘That won’t be necessary for the moment. Later – when she’s better able to tell me what she knows. I think, too, it might be wise if your butler is excused.’
    On hearing these words, Chitty gave the policeman a respectful nod and may even have said something equally respectful, except that, if he did, he said it so butlerishly
sotto voce
the Chief-Inspector was unlikely to have heardwhat it was. Then, without waiting to be requested to do so by the Colonel, he left the room.
    After watching him go, Trubshawe turned to face the whole company.
    ‘Well now, ladies and gentlemen,’ he said, ‘as you don’t need to be told, this is a most terrible and mysterious crime you’ve got yourselves entangled in. I literally couldn’t believe my ears when I was first told what had happened but, having been up to the attic and seen for myself, I have to believe them now. In effect, the murderer contrived to get in, kill Raymond Gentry, then get out again, apparently without opening either a door or a window. I don’t mind admitting I’m dumbfounded.
    ‘What I require, though, is for one of you to fill me in on the events that led up to the murder itself. Coming over here in the car, Dr Rolfe and Mr Duckworth did give me a sketchy account, but, what with stopping and starting and getting out to push and getting back in again, well – you’ll excuse me, gents, I’m sure you understand what I’m saying – but what I need now is a more coherent version, one with a beginning, a middle and an end in that order. Would any of you,’ he said, glancing at everybody in turn, ‘care to volunteer? Just one, mind.’
    There was a moment’s silence, then Mary ffolkes began to say:
    ‘Well, it does seem to me that …’
    ‘Yes, Mrs ffolkes?’
    ‘I was going to suggest Evie. She’s the writer Evadne Mount, you know. And, well, it
is
her job to tell stories – indeed, just this sort of a story. So I thought …’
    ‘Uh huh,’ murmured Trubshawe, his fingers drumming a restless tattoo on the mantelpiece. ‘Ye-es, I suppose she would be the obvious choice.’
    You could see, however, that he was less than ecstatic at the prospect of even temporarily surrendering the reins to his redoubtable rival in matters of criminality.
    Evadne Mount could see it too.
    ‘Now look, Trubshawe,’ she said pettishly, ‘I’ll be happy to oblige but, if you’d rather it weren’t me, then all you have to do is say so. I don’t easily take offence, you know,’ she added with less conviction.
    ‘Oh, but you’re wrong, Miss Mount,’ he tactfully replied. ‘I’d be pleased, very pleased, if you were to give me a rundown of what occurred here yesterday. All I’d say – but I’m sure I really don’t need to – is, well, just stick to the facts. Keep your imagination for your whodunits.’
    ‘Now that
is
a remark I might be offended by,’ said the novelist, ‘if I were so minded. But because it’s you, Trubshawe, and I’ve already taken a shine to you, I’m