Spider's Web

He returned the envelope to the Inspector. "Take great care of this, Inspector. You'll probably find it's extremely valuable, besides being evidence."

"It's evidence, all right," replied the Inspector. "A particularly vicious young criminal is going to get his deserts." Walking across to the hall door, he continued, "However, we've still got to find the body."

"Oh, that's easy, Inspector," Clarissa assured him. "Look in the bed in the spare room."

The Inspector turned and regarded her disapprovingly. "Now, really, Mrs. Hailsham-Brown – " he began.

He was interrupted by Clarissa. "Why does nobody ever believe me?" she cried plaintively. "It is in the spare-room bed. You go and look, Inspector. Across the bed, under the bolster. Miss Peake put it there, trying to be kind."

"Trying to be... ?" The Inspector broke off, clearly at a loss for words. He went to the door, turned, and said reproachfully, "You know, Mrs. Hailsham-Brown, you haven't made things easier for us tonight, telling us all these tall stories. I suppose you thought your husband had done it, and were lying to cover up for him. But you shouldn't do it, madam. You really shouldn't do it." With a final shake of his head, he left the room.

"Well!" Clarissa exclaimed indignantly. She turned towards the sofa. "Oh, Pippa..." she remembered.

"Better get her up to bed," Sir Rowland advised. "She'll be safe now." Gently shaking the child, Clarissa said softly, "Come on, Pippa. Ups-a-daisy. Time you were in bed."

Pippa got up, waveringly. "I'm hungry," she murmured.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure you are," Clarissa assured her as she led her to the hall door. "Come on, we'll see what we can find."

"Good night, Pippa," Sir Rowland called to her, and was rewarded with a yawned "Goo' night" as Clarissa and Pippa left the room. He sat down at the bridge table and had begun to put the playing cards in their box when Hugo came in from the hall.

"God bless my soul," Hugo exclaimed. "I'd never have believed it. Young Warrender, of all people. He seemed a decent-enough young fellow. Been to a good school. Knew all the right people."

"But was quite willing to commit murder for the sake of fourteen thousand pounds," Sir Rowland observed suavely. "It happens now and then, Hugo, in every class of society. An attractive personality, and no moral sense."

Mrs. Brown, the former Miss Peake, stuck her head around the hall door. "I thought I'd just tell you, Sir Rowland," she announced, reverting to her familiar booming voice, "I've got to go along to the police station. They want me to make a statement. They're not too pleased at the trick I played on them. I'm in for a wigging, I'm afraid."

She roared with laughter, withdrew, and slammed the door shut.

Hugo watched her go, then went over to join Sir Rowland at the bridge table. "You know, Roly, I still don't quite get it," he admitted. "Was Miss Peake Mrs. Sellon, or was Mr. Sellon Mr. Brown? Or the other way round?"

Sir Rowland was saved from having to reply by the return of the Inspector, who came into the room to pick up his cap and gloves. "We're removing the body now, gentlemen," he informed them both. He paused momentarily before adding, "Sir Rowland, would you mind advising Mrs. Hailsham-Brown that, if she tells these fancy stories to the police, one day she'll get into real trouble."

"She did actually tell you the truth once, you know, Inspector," Sir Rowland reminded him gently, "but on that occasion you simply wouldn't believe her."

The Inspector looked a trifle embarrassed. "Yes... hmmm... well," he began. Then, pulling himself together, he said, "Frankly, sir, it was a bit difficult to swallow, you'll admit."

"Oh, I admit that, certainly," Sir Rowland assured him.

"Not that I blame you, sir," the Inspector went on in a confidential tone. "Mrs. Hailsham-Brown is a lady who has a very taking way with her." He shook his head reflectively, then "Well, good night, sir," he said.

"Good night, Inspector," Sir Rowland replied amiably.

"Good night, Mr. Birch," the Inspector called, backing towards the hall door.

"Good night, Inspector, and well done," Hugo responded, coming over to him and shaking hands.

"Thank you, sir," said the Inspector.

He left, and Hugo yawned. "Oh, well, I suppose I'd better be going home to bed," he announced to Sir Rowland. "Some evening, eh?"

"As you say, Hugo, some evening," Sir Rowland replied, tidying the bridge table as he spoke. "Good night."

"Good night," Hugo responded, and made his way out into the hall.

Sir Rowland left the cards and markers in a neat pile on the table, then picked up Who's Who and replaced it on the bookshelves. Clarissa came in from the hall, went over to him and put her hands on his arms. "Darling Roly," she addressed him. "What would we have done without you? You are so clever."

"And you are a very lucky young woman," he told her. "It's a good thing you didn't lose your heart to that young villain, Warrender."