Agatha Christie - Body In The Library by Miss Marple 02 The Body in the Library

Author:Miss Marple 02 The Body in the Library
Language: eng
Format: epub

Agatha Christie - Body In The Library

“Ah,” said Superintendent Harper. “Alibis. That's what we're up against.”

Melchett looked at him sharply. “Think so? I've left that side of the investigation to you.”

“Yes, sir. It's been gone into very thoroughly. We applied to London for help over it.”

“Well?”

“Mr. Conway Jefferson may think that Mr. Gaskell and young Mrs. Jefferson are comfortably off, but that is not the case. They're both extremely hard up.”

“Is that true?” “Quite true, sir. It's as Mr. Conway Jefferson said; he made over considerable sums of money to his son and daughter when they married. That was a number of years ago, though. Mr. Frank Jefferson fancied himself as knowing good investments. He didn't invest in anything absolutely wildcat, but he was unlucky and showed poor judgment more than once. His holdings have gone steadily down. I should say that Mrs. Jefferson found it very difficult to make both ends meet and send her son to a good school.”

“But she hasn't applied to her father-in-law for help?”

“No, sir. As far as I can make out she lives with him and, consequently, has no household expenses.”

“And his health is such that he wasn't expected to live long?”

“That's right, sir. Now for Mr. Mark Gaskell, he's a gambler, pure and simple. Got through his wife's money very soon. Has got himself tangled up rather badly just at present. He needs money badly, and a good deal of it.”

“Can't say I liked the looks of him much,” said Colonel Melchett. “Wild-looking sort of fellow, what? And he's got a motive, all right. Twenty-five thousand pounds it meant to him, getting that girl out of the way. Yes, it's a motive all right.” “They both had a motive.” “I'm not considering Mrs. Jefferson.” “No, sir, I know you're not. And, anyway, the alibi holds for both of them. They couldn't have done it. Just that.”

“You've got a detailed statement of their movements that evening?” “Yes, I have. Take Mr. Gaskell first. He dined with his father-in-law and Mrs. Jefferson, had coffee with them afterward when Ruby Keene joined them. Then said he had to write letters and left them. Actually, he took his car and went for a spin down to the front. He told me quite frankly he couldn't stick playing bridge for a whole evening. The old boy's mad on it. So he made letters an excuse. Ruby Keene remained with the others. Mark Gaskell returned when she was dancing with Raymond. After the dance Ruby came and had a drink with them, then she went off with young Bartlett, and Gaskell and the others cut for partners and started their bridge. That was at twenty minutes to eleven, and he didn't leave the table until after midnight. That's quite certain, sir. Everyone says so: the family, the waiters, everyone. Therefore, he couldn't have done it. And Mrs. Jefferson's alibi is the same. She, too, didn't leave the table. They're out, both of them out.” Colonel Melchett leaned back, tapping the table with a paper cutter.

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