The Spanish Cape Mystery by Ellery Queen

Author:Ellery Queen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Published: 2012-01-15T12:08:42+00:00

* * *

When Godfrey and Jorum had gone, the millionaire prodding his gardener like a proud shepherd, Inspector Moley threw up his hands.

“Another complication. A damned maid!”

“Not necessarily a complication. If Jorum’s time-sense is to be relied on, our original reconstruction still stands. The coroner said Marco died between one and half-past, and this Pitts woman was being coy with Marco within that period. And Jorum actually saw her leave.”

“Well, we’ll soon enough find out if this Pitts business is just nothing, or what.” Moley lowered himself into a chair and stretched his thick legs.

“God, I’m tired! Must be pretty tuckered yourself.” Ellery smiled ruefully. “Don’t mention that word. All I can think of is Judge Macklin snoring beatifically away somewhere over my head. I’ll simply have to get some shut-eye soon, or drop in my tracks.” He sat down limply. “By the way, here’s the murder-note. Your local district attorney may find it valuable when—and if—this case ever reaches the prosecuting stage.”

Moley tucked the pasted sheet carefully away. They sat relaxed, facing each other, minds emptied. The library was hushed, a cloister in a land of pandemonium. Ellery’s lids began to droop.

But they came alive at the sound of clattering feet. The Inspector swung about, tense. It was the detective he had sent, followed by Mrs.

Godfrey.

“What’s the matter, Joe? Where’s that maid?”

“Can’t find her,” panted the man. “Mrs. Godfrey says—” They sprang to their feet. “So she’s gone, eh?” muttered Ellery. “I thought I heard you say something about that to your daughter this morning, Mrs. Godfrey.”

“Yes.” Her dark features were worried. “As a matter of fact, when I went upstairs before to tell you about luncheon, I had in mind mentioning Pitts’s absence. I forgot in what happened.” She passed her slender hand over her forehead. “I didn’t think it important—”

“You didn’t think it important!” howled Inspector Moley, dancing up and down. “Nobody thinks anything important! Jorum keeps his mouth shut. You won’t talk. Everybody . . . Where is she? When’d you see her last? For God’s sake, haven’t you a tongue, Mrs. Godfrey?”

“Don’t shout, please,” said the dark woman coldly. “I’m not a servant.

If you’ll keep your temper, Inspector, I’ll tell you what I know about it.

We’ve been so upset here today that a thing like that didn’t make much impression on me, at first. I don’t generally see Pitts until I return from my morning dip to dress for breakfast. Naturally, with everything that—

that happened, you see . . . It wasn’t until I returned to the house this morning, after I—I found the body, that I asked for her. Nobody seemed to know where she was, and I was too dazed and harassed about other things to push the matter. One of the other maids helped me. All day at various times it’s come back to me that she wasn’t anywhere about . . . .”

“Where’s she sleep?” said Moley with bitterness.

“In the servants’ wing on the main floor here.”

“Did you look there?” he barked at the detective.

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