Free Speedy Death by Gladys Mitchell

‘I had set my heart on unravelling the mystery, and, if you are right, and the police decide to conduct an inquiry, I shall notget much more opportunity for finding out things.’
    Mrs Bradley held up one finger. ‘Listen! There goes the gong for lunch,’ she said. ‘I would just like to say this: In your opinion, which is the most remarkable feature of the whole case?’
    ‘Well, apart from the murder itself,’ replied Carstairs slowly, and appearing to ruminate as he spoke, ‘I suppose the fact that Mountjoy turned out to be a woman is the queerest thing about it.’
    ‘Yes, that was queer,’ said Mrs Bradley, in a curiously inconclusive tone.
    ‘You don’t help me very much,’ said Carstairs, whimsically smiling.
    ‘I don’t intend to, my friend,’ she answered; ‘but if the same idea as has occurred to me does not occur to you before tomorrow morning, I shall be very much surprised.’
    Carstairs opened the door for her, and stood gazing after her retreating form as she walked to the staircase.
    ‘Hum! And if I weren’t convinced that you are
not
the murderer, I should be equally convinced that you
are
, you extraordinary woman,’ he said under his breath. ‘I wonder whether you are trying to lead me up the garden with your hints and insinuations, or whether you are trying to make me see something which, left to myself, I should overlook. Mountjoy was a man, and the man changed into a woman, and nobody—yes! By jove! Somebody did! Oho! So that’s what you meant, Mrs Bradley, did you. Oh my hat! That puts a new construction on the crime with a vengeance!’

Chapter Seven
Investigation
    LUNCH WAS A cheerful meal. Light and even frivolous conversation seemed to be expected from everyone. Carstairs and Mrs Bradley incurred a good deal of chaff from the two young men on the lengthy and boring game they had invented. Dorothy was cross-questioned as to her share in the proceedings, but no one seemed to care about interrogating Alastair Bing, who alone appeared unable to throw off his heavy mood and join in the pleasant badinage.
    ‘Did they put you through it, Dorothy?’ inquired Garde solicitously.
    ‘Rather,’ replied Dorothy, smiling demurely at Mrs Bradley. ‘It was awful. I shouldn’t take your turn if I were you. All one’s purple past is dragged out into the light of day.’
    ‘We’ll send Eleanor in next,’ chuckled Eleanor’s brother. ‘What about it, old bean?’
    ‘I do wish, Garde,’ said Eleanor primly, ‘that you would not address me in that ridiculous way.As to playing this rather childish game, I have no objection at all, but I do think that so soon after Mr Mountjoy’s death, I should not be expected to seem too light-hearted, although I have no wish to deprive others of their simple pleasures.’
    Garde, turning his eyes heavenwards and then winking wickedly at Dorothy, attacked his food with a healthily boyish appetite.
    The meal over, Alastair Bing drew Carstairs aside and said: ‘I have invited the Chief Constable to stay here for a day or two, and during his visit I shall request him to make a quite informal preliminary investigation. The police doctor will also be present, although not in his official capacity, of course, and I shall get him to examine the body. Does that satisfy you?’
    ‘I suppose I must leave you to proceed as you think best, Bing,’ Carstairs replied moodily. ‘But I wish you had been advised by me, and had allowed me to conclude my own investigation of the matter before you called in outside assistance.’
    ‘Oh, I can’t help your vanity being hurt,’ Alastair replied, with unnecessary rudeness. ‘If there is a mystery about the woman’s death, it must be cleared up by the authorities. There is no sense in your muddling about at it, you know. Besides, the whole thing will be quite informal. I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing in your theories, but the Chief Constable will clear the whole matter up.’
    Carstairs laughed