Free Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie

horrible, actually - er - strangled...” Mrs Castle could hardly bring herself to say the word. She brought it out with the utmost reluctance.
    Inspector Colgate said soothingly: “Yes, it's a nasty business.”
    “And the newspapers. My hotel in the newspapers!”
    Colgate said, with a faint grin: “Oh, well, it's advertisement, in a way.”
    Mrs Castle drew herself up. Her bust heaved and whale-bone creaked. She said icily: “That is not the kind of advertisement Ay care about, Mr Colgate.”
    Colonel Weston broke in. He said: “Now then, Mrs Castle, you've got a list of the guests staying here, as I asked you?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Colonel Weston pored over the hotel register. He looked over to Poirot who made the forth member of the group assembled in the Manageress's office. “This is where you'll probably be able to help us presently.” He read down the names. “What about servants?”
    Mrs Castle produced a second list. “There are four chambermaids, the head waiter and three under him and Henry in the bar. William does the boots and shoes. Then there's the cook and two under her.”
    “What about the waiters?”
    “Well, sir, Albert, the Mater Dotel, came to me from the Vincent at Plymouth. He was there for some years. The three under him have been here for three years - one of them four. They are very nice lads and most respectable. Henry has been here since the hotel opened. He is quite an institution.”
    Weston nodded. He said to Colgate: “Seems all right. You'll check up on them, of course. Thank you, Mrs Castle.”
    “That will be all you require?”
    “For the moment, yes.”
    Mrs Castle creaked out of the room. Weston said: “First thing to do is to talk with Captain Marshall.”
    Kenneth Marshall sat quietly answering the questions put to him. Apart from a slight hardening of his features he was quite calm. Seen here, with the sunlight falling on him from the window, you realized that he was a handsome man. Those straight features, the steady blue eyes, the firm mouth. His voice was low and pleasant. Colonel Weston was saying: “I quite understand, Captain Marshall, what a terrible shock this must be to you. But you realize that I am anxious to get the fullest information as soon as possible.”
    Marshall nodded. He said: “I quite understand. Carry on.”
    “Mrs Marshall was your second wife?”
    “Yes.”
    “And you have been married, how long?”
    “Just over four years.”
    “And her name before she was married?”
    “Helen Stuart. Her acting name was Arlena Stuart.”
    “She was an actress?”
    “She appeared in Revue and musical shows.”
    “Did she give up the stage on her marriage?”
    “No. She continued to appear. She actually retired only about a year and a half ago.”
    “Was there any special reason for her retirement?”
    Kenneth Marshall appeared to consider. “No,” he said. “She simply said that she was tired of it all.”
    “It was not - er - in obedience to your special wish?”
    Marshall raised his eyebrows. “Oh, no.”
    “You were quite content for her to continue acting after your marriage?”
    Marshall smiled very faintly. “I should have preferred her to give it up - that, yes. But I made no fuss about it.”
    “It caused no point of dissension between you?”
    “Certainly not. My wife was free to please herself.”
    “And - the marriage was a happy one?”
    Kenneth Marshall said coldly: “Certainly.”
    Colonel Weston paused a minute. Then he said: “Captain Marshall, have you any idea who could possibly have killed your wife?”
    The answer came without the least hesitation. “None whatsoever.”
    “Had she any enemies?”
    “Possibly.”
    “Ah?”
    The other went on quickly. He said: “Don't misunderstand me, sir. My wife was an actress. She was also a very good-looking woman. In both capacities she aroused a certain amount of envy and jealousy. There were fusses over parts - there was rivalry from other women - there was a good deal,