Free The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie Page A

eyes.
    â€œMust I go on repeating the same thing over and over again? I’ve no flesh and blood of my own—no nieces or nephews or distant cousins, even! I might have left it to charity. I prefer to leave it to an individual.” He laughed. “Cinderella turned into a princess overnight! A fairy-godfather instead of a fairy-godmother. Why not? It’s my money. I made it.”
    Colonel Melchett asked: “Any other bequests?”
    â€œA small legacy to Edwards, my valet—and the remainder to Mark and Addie in equal shares.”
    â€œWould—excuse me—the residue amount to a large sum?”
    â€œProbably not. It’s difficult to say exactly, investments fluctuate all the time. The sum involved, after death duties and expenses hadbeen paid, would probably have come to something between five and ten thousand pounds net.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œAnd you needn’t think I was treating them shabbily. As I said, I divided up my estate at the time my children married. I left myself, actually, a very small sum. But after—after the tragedy—I wanted something to occupy my mind. I flung myself into business. At my house in London I had a private line put in connecting my bedroom with my office. I worked hard—it helped me not to think, and it made me feel that my—my mutilation had not vanquished me. I threw myself into work”—his voice took on a deeper note, he spoke more to himself than to his audience—“and, by some subtle irony, everything I did prospered! My wildest speculations succeeded. If I gambled, I won. Everything I touched turned to gold. Fate’s ironic way of righting the balance, I suppose.”
    The lines of suffering stood out on his face again.
    Recollecting himself, he smiled wryly at them.
    â€œSo you see, the sum of money I left Ruby was indisputably mine to do with as my fancy dictated.”
    Melchett said quickly:
    â€œUndoubtedly, my dear fellow, we are not questioning that for a moment.”
    Conway Jefferson said: “Good. Now I want to ask some questions in my turn, if I may. I want to hear—more about this terrible business. All I know is that she—that little Ruby was found strangled in a house some twenty miles from here.”
    â€œThat is correct. At Gossington Hall.”
    Jefferson frowned.
    â€œGossington? But that’s—”
    â€œColonel Bantry’s house.”
    â€œBantry! Arthur Bantry? But I know him. Know him and his wife! Met them abroad some years ago. I didn’t realize they lived in this part of the world. Why, it’s—”
    He broke off. Superintendent Harper slipped in smoothly:
    â€œColonel Bantry was dining in the hotel here Tuesday of last week. You didn’t see him?”
    â€œTuesday? Tuesday? No, we were back late. Went over to Harden Head and had dinner on the way back.”
    Melchett said:
    â€œRuby Keene never mentioned the Bantrys to you?”
    Jefferson shook his head.
    â€œNever. Don’t believe she knew them. Sure she didn’t. She didn’t know anybody but theatrical folk and that sort of thing.” He paused and then asked abruptly:
    â€œWhat’s Bantry got to say about it?”
    â€œHe can’t account for it in the least. He was out at a Conservative meeting last night. The body was discovered this morning. He says he’s never seen the girl in his life.”
    Jefferson nodded. He said:
    â€œIt certainly seems fantastic.”
    Superintendent Harper cleared his throat. He said:
    â€œHave you any idea at all, sir, who can have done this?”
    â€œGood God, I wish I had!” The veins stood out on his forehead. “It’s incredible, unimaginable! I’d say it couldn’t have happened, if it hadn’t happened!”
    â€œThere’s no friend of hers—from her past life—no man hanging about—or threatening her?”
    â€œI’m sure there isn’t.