Free Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie Page B

so took a risk—the risk of being noticed. We’ll have a word with George and William presently.”
    Mrs. Castle said:
    â€œAy do not care for trippers—a very noisy crowd, and they frequently leave orange peel and cigarette boxes on the causeway and down by the rocks, but all the same ay never thought one of them would turn out to be a murderer. Oh dear! it really is too terriblefor words. A lady like Mrs. Marshall murdered and what’s so 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:
    â€œYes, it’s a nasty business.”
    â€œAnd the newspapers. My hotel in the newspapers!”
    Colgate said, with a faint grin.
    â€œOh well, it’s advertisement, in a way.”
    Mrs. Castle drew herself up. Her bust heaved and whalebone creaked. She said icily:
    â€œThat is not the kind of advertisement ay care about, Mr. Colgate.”
    Colonel Weston broke in. He said:
    â€œNow then, Mrs. Castle, you’ve got a list of the guests staying here, as I asked you?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Colonel Weston pored over the hotel register. He looked over to Poirot who made the fourth member of the group assembled in the manageress’s office.
    â€œThis is where you’ll probably be able to help us presently.”
    He read down the names.
    â€œWhat about servants?”
    Mrs. Castle produced a second list.
    â€œThere 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.”
    â€œWhat about the waiters?”
    â€œWell, 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 naise lads and most respectable. Henry has been here since the hotel opened. He is quite an institution.”
    Weston nodded. He said to Colgate:
    â€œSeems all right. You’ll check up on them, of course. Thank you, Mrs. Castle.”
    â€œThat will be all you require?”
    â€œFor the moment, yes.”
    Mrs. Castle creaked out of the room.
    Weston said:
    â€œFirst thing to do is to talk with Captain Marshall.
    IV
    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:
    â€œI 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:
    â€œI quite understand. Carry on.”
    â€œMrs. Marshall was your second wife?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd you have been married how long?”
    â€œJust over four years.”
    â€œAnd her name before she was married?”
    â€œHelen Stuart. Her acting name was Arlena Stuart.”
    â€œShe was an actress?”
    â€œShe appeared in Revue and musical shows.”
    â€œDid she give up the stage on her marriage?”
    â€œNo. She continued to appear. She actually retired only about a year and a half ago.”
    â€œWas there any special reason for her retirement?”
    Kenneth Marshall appeared to consider.
    â€œNo,” he said. “She simply said that she was tired of it all.”
    â€œIt was not—er—in obedience to your special wish?”
    Marshall raised his eyebrows.
    â€œOh, no.”
    â€œYou were quite content for her to continue acting after your marriage?”
    Marshall smiled very faintly.
    â€œI should have preferred her to give it up—that, yes. But I made no fuss about