began with a straightforward account of Mr Thackerton’s death based, it would seem from the frequent mention of Sergeant Drewd of the Criminal Investigation Department, on the Sergeant’s ownaccount of the case. But soon there came paragraphs more speculative.
It appears to be irrefutably proved that the murder was committed between the hours of 10p.m. and 10.30p.m. During this period only one person is known to have entered the fatal chamber. That person is the governess resident at No
3
Northumberland Gardens, a Miss Harriet Unwin. Miss Unwin was introduced into the household some three or four months ago to attend to the education of Master Pelham Thackerton, the deceased’s only grandson. Mr and Mrs Arthur Thackerton, the deceased’s son and daughter-in-law also reside in the house, and it is understood that Mr Thackerton senior took the greatest interest in the welfare of the boy, sole eventual heir to the family fortune
.
So far, surely, nothing to have aroused in Mrs Arthur quite the angry distress she had shown.
Oh, but now. The next paragraph.
In an exclusive interview with Miss Unwin I learnt –
Miss Unwin lowered the paper.
‘Mrs Thackerton, believe me, that man had no interview with me, exclusive or otherwise. I cannot understand how he can claim to have done so.’
‘Miss Unwin, that is not my information.’
‘Not your information? I do not understand.’
‘It is very simple. You were seen talking to this individual.’
‘But I –’
Miss Unwin came to a halt. She had, of course, talked to the reporter. However briefly. In whatever terms.
‘I am glad to see that you do not persist in denials.’
‘Madam, I do not. It is true that I did talk to that man. I came upon him in the hall, and …’
A sudden thought struck her. She had seen no one else in the hall at the time Hopkinson of the
Mercury
had been lurking there. So how had Mrs Arthur learnt that the two of them had exchanged those few words?
‘But who has said that I talked with that person?’ she demanded. ‘Let them face me. Let them tell you in my presence just how many or how few words I addressed to him.’
‘It was Jos – I cannot really see, Miss Unwin, that it is in any way material who it was who did his duty and informedme that my husband’s strict orders concerning newspaper reporters had been disregarded. The fact remains that they were so disregarded.’
Miss Unwin felt her mind swing between fury and dread. Joseph. It had been Joseph who had seen her with Hopkinson and had found an opportunity to tell another tale against her. Would his malice never be satisfied? And Mrs Arthur. What steps did she mean to take over that obstinate conviction of hers that her husband’s order had been flagrantly disobeyed?
‘If you will just let me explain.’
‘No explanation or excuse will meet the case. I have made up my mind.’
There was an edge of hysteria in Mrs Arthur’s voice. The excitement of a weak will screwed up to take decisive action.
‘But you do not understand the circumstances. Believe me, I –’
‘No.’
Mrs Arthur’s interruption was almost a scream.
‘No, Miss Unwin, we cannot any longer tolerate under our roof, looking after the wellbeing of our child, a person who is spoken of in the newspapers in this manner. I do not know whether what the paper alleges about you is true. I presume there must be some doubt since Sergeant Drewd has not seen fit to proceed further. But it is intolerable to find ourselves publicly described as sheltering a person who may have committed that abominable crime.’
‘Madam, you are not sheltering that person.’
‘Miss Unwin, I must be the judge of what is or is not suitable. You will go to your room, pack your belongings and leave this house before the funeral procession sets out.’
Miss Unwin felt an iron shutter of despair descend. To have climbed inch by inch the long ladder from those depths of her earliest days. To have achieved so much progress
It appears to be irrefutably proved that the murder was committed between the hours of 10p.m. and 10.30p.m. During this period only one person is known to have entered the fatal chamber. That person is the governess resident at No
3
Northumberland Gardens, a Miss Harriet Unwin. Miss Unwin was introduced into the household some three or four months ago to attend to the education of Master Pelham Thackerton, the deceased’s only grandson. Mr and Mrs Arthur Thackerton, the deceased’s son and daughter-in-law also reside in the house, and it is understood that Mr Thackerton senior took the greatest interest in the welfare of the boy, sole eventual heir to the family fortune
.
So far, surely, nothing to have aroused in Mrs Arthur quite the angry distress she had shown.
Oh, but now. The next paragraph.
In an exclusive interview with Miss Unwin I learnt –
Miss Unwin lowered the paper.
‘Mrs Thackerton, believe me, that man had no interview with me, exclusive or otherwise. I cannot understand how he can claim to have done so.’
‘Miss Unwin, that is not my information.’
‘Not your information? I do not understand.’
‘It is very simple. You were seen talking to this individual.’
‘But I –’
Miss Unwin came to a halt. She had, of course, talked to the reporter. However briefly. In whatever terms.
‘I am glad to see that you do not persist in denials.’
‘Madam, I do not. It is true that I did talk to that man. I came upon him in the hall, and …’
A sudden thought struck her. She had seen no one else in the hall at the time Hopkinson of the
Mercury
had been lurking there. So how had Mrs Arthur learnt that the two of them had exchanged those few words?
‘But who has said that I talked with that person?’ she demanded. ‘Let them face me. Let them tell you in my presence just how many or how few words I addressed to him.’
‘It was Jos – I cannot really see, Miss Unwin, that it is in any way material who it was who did his duty and informedme that my husband’s strict orders concerning newspaper reporters had been disregarded. The fact remains that they were so disregarded.’
Miss Unwin felt her mind swing between fury and dread. Joseph. It had been Joseph who had seen her with Hopkinson and had found an opportunity to tell another tale against her. Would his malice never be satisfied? And Mrs Arthur. What steps did she mean to take over that obstinate conviction of hers that her husband’s order had been flagrantly disobeyed?
‘If you will just let me explain.’
‘No explanation or excuse will meet the case. I have made up my mind.’
There was an edge of hysteria in Mrs Arthur’s voice. The excitement of a weak will screwed up to take decisive action.
‘But you do not understand the circumstances. Believe me, I –’
‘No.’
Mrs Arthur’s interruption was almost a scream.
‘No, Miss Unwin, we cannot any longer tolerate under our roof, looking after the wellbeing of our child, a person who is spoken of in the newspapers in this manner. I do not know whether what the paper alleges about you is true. I presume there must be some doubt since Sergeant Drewd has not seen fit to proceed further. But it is intolerable to find ourselves publicly described as sheltering a person who may have committed that abominable crime.’
‘Madam, you are not sheltering that person.’
‘Miss Unwin, I must be the judge of what is or is not suitable. You will go to your room, pack your belongings and leave this house before the funeral procession sets out.’
Miss Unwin felt an iron shutter of despair descend. To have climbed inch by inch the long ladder from those depths of her earliest days. To have achieved so much progress
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