Inspector French by Freeman Wills Crofts

Author:Freeman Wills Crofts [Crofts, Freeman Wills]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2022-07-01T12:00:00+00:00

12

The Brown Wool

His interview with Sir Mortimer over, French next day called Carter and set off once again for Henley.

The morning was gloriously fresh and clear, though there was promise of heat later. French registered a vow that if time permitted he would do what he had wanted to do every day since he came down: have a long leisurely swim in the river.

On reaching the Cygnet he asked for Collison.

‘I’ve got a bit of news for you, Captain,’ he began when they were seated on a shady part of the deck. ‘Something that’ll surprise you, and that I want you to keep absolutely to yourself.’ He glanced round and lowered his voice. ‘Mr Harrison didn’t commit suicide,’ and he went on to summarise his discoveries.

Captain Collison was horrified. Though he had never pretended personal sorrow for Harrison, he seemed to take it as an insult to himself that the murder had been committed on his ship. Evidently in naval circles such things were not done.

‘Very distressing,’ he exclaimed. ‘Why, the boat will be notorious over the entire civilised world.’

‘Worse than the Girl Pat, I’m afraid,’ French returned solemnly. ‘It’ll be a two- or three-days’ wonder. Then,’ he shrugged, ‘it’ll be forgotten. But to reduce public interest and get it forgotten quickly there must be no mystery. We must get the murderer. And that’s where I want your help.’

‘You may count on it,’ Collison said with emphasis. ‘A person like that has no right to live. What do you want me to do?’

‘Give me your opinion principally. For instance, there’s no doubt a boat came alongside that night. Why didn’t your watchman see it?’

The captain shrugged. ‘There are possible reasons,’ he said dryly, ‘some of which you might guess.’

‘You mean that he might have been asleep? Now that would interest me quite a lot. Can we find out?’

Collison looked at him searchingly. ‘Drugged?’ he queried. ‘I confess I hadn’t thought of that. We can ask him.’

French smiled. ‘I suppose we can,’ he agreed, dry in his turn. ‘But can we find the answer?’

Collison considered. ‘I think so. It was Peters, and he’s a reliable man. I think he’d tell us the truth. But unless he was specially looking out, he could easily miss seeing it.’

‘Suppose we hear what he has to say, Captain?’ French was impressed by the watchman, when a moment later he appeared. He had a good face and manner and gave his evidence clearly.

But it was entirely negative. He had been awake all night, and though he had not moved much about the deck, he had kept a reasonably sharp look-out. But he had neither heard nor seen anything unusual. He did not believe that any boat had or could have come alongside, as he was sure he would have heard it.

‘So then,’ said French when the man had disappeared, ‘the question arises: How silently could a boat be brought alongside?’

‘With care, in absolute silence, I should think.’

‘Would any precautions be adopted to save noise? You see what I want.

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