09 - Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh

Author:Ngaio Marsh [Ngaio Marsh]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-01-23T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Routine

"There was a devil of a lot of movement while the lights were out."

What sort of movement?" asked Alleyn.

"I know what you mean," said Parish, before Cubitt could answer. "It was Luke. He must have had a sort of attack after the lights went out. It was appalling."

"I don't mean that," said Cubitt. "I know Luke made a noise. His feet beat a sort of tattoo on the settle. He flung his arms about and--he made other noises."

"For God's sake," Parish broke out, "don't talk about it like that! I don't know how you can sit there and discuss it."

"It looks as if we've got to," said Cubitt.

"I'm afraid it does," agreed Alleyn. "What other movements did you notice, beyond those made by Mr. Watchman?"

"Somebody was crawling about the floor," Cubitt said.

Parish made a gesture of impatience. "My dear old Norman," he said, " 'Crawling about the floor!' You're giving Mr. Alleyn a wrong impression. Completely wrong! I've no doubt one of us may have stooped down in the dark, knelt down, perhaps, to try and get hold of Luke."

"I don't mean that at all," said Cubitt calmly. "Someone was literally crawling about the floor. Whoever it was banged his head against my knees."

"Where were you standing?" asked Alleyn.

"By the foot of the settle. I had my back to the settle. The backs of my knees touched it."

"How d'you know it was a head?" demanded Parish. "It might have been a foot."

"I can distinguish between a foot and a head," said Cubitt, "even in the dark."

"Somebody feeling round for the brandy glass," said Parish.

"It was after the brandy glass was broken." Cubitt looked at Alleyn. "Somebody trod on the glass soon after the lights went out. There's probably nothing in it, anyway. I've no idea at all whose head it was."

"Was it Legge's head?" demanded Parish, suddenly.

"I tell you, Seb," said Cubitt, quite mildly, "I don't know whose head it was. I merely know it was there. It simply butted against my knees and drew away quickly."

"Well, of course!" said Parish. "It was Abel."

"Why Abel?"

Parish turned to Alleyn.

"Abel dropped the bottle of iodine just before the lights went out. I remember that. He must have stooped down to try and find it."

"If it was Abel, he didn't succeed," said Alleyn. "The bottle was found under the settle, you know."

"Well, it was dark."

"So it was," agreed Alleyn. "Why did you think it might be Mr. Legge's head?"

Parish at once became very solemn. He moved to the hearthrug. He thrust his hands into the pockets of his shorts, pulled in his belly, and stuck out his jaw.

"God knows," he began, "I don't want to condemn any man, but Norman and I have talked this thing over."

"Come off it, Seb," said Cubitt. "We haven't a blessed thing against the fellow, you know. Nothing that would be of any interest to Mr. Alleyn. I'm very well aware that my own ideas are largely self-protective. I suppose you know, Mr. Alleyn, that Watchman left me some of his money.

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