The pool of St Branok

"Why did you show me the diary?" I asked. "Why didn't you give it back to her? What has she done? I've read it. All she did was love this man."

"Why did she change her name?"

"Because she wanted to get away from all that."

"She settled in I gathered and beguiled you all. She went to the Crimea."

"She was a nurse. I have the utmost admiration for those women."

"She went out to marry rich Jonnie and she came back comfortably off."

"It was a legal marriage. Uncle Peter checked on that. There is no reason why she should not forget her past ... as you will."

"They discovered the body of that man in the pool, remember?"

"I do remember," I said vehemently.

"How did he get there? How did he die? It was so near the place where she was staying."

I did not answer.

He went on: "Enough of him. He's out of the picture. She's a clever woman ... a scheming woman. She has some money now ... not as much as she would like. She is looking for a rich husband. She wants to be a social hostess. I can see it clearly ... I was interested in her the moment I saw her. You know whom she has her eyes on now, don't you?"

"Whom?" I asked faintly.

"Ben Lansdon." He looked at me ironically. "I've observed a lot. One has to in the card business. You have to know how people react and you play accordingly. I'll tell you what I know about Ben Lansdon."

"What?"

"That he is interested in someone else."

"Who?"

"I think you know. Hasn't he told you? He's obsessed by you ... and his wife takes an overdose ..."

"What are you suggesting?"

"That I don't think she took it herself."

"Oh ... no!"

"Simply that it was given to her. She was inconvenient."

"I don't want to hear any more of this, Justin. It's pure supposition. It's unfair. You don't know anything."

"I think she was murdered."

"No ... no. It was accidental. The verdict ..."

"Verdicts are not always the truth."

"Justin, what are you leading to?"

"That two people might have killed her. One, her husband who is in love with another woman and who must have found her a great encumbrance. Two, the other woman who had plans to marry her husband."

"I think this is nonsense."

"It might not be. I don't think Ben Lansdon would commit murder.

He's too clever for that. He wouldn't hate her. He wouldn't hate anyone to that extent. He is one of those men whose conduct is not always exemplary —like my own—but they can be a little more kindly than the wholly virtuous sometimes are. He didn't want Lizzie as a wife, but he had an affection for her. That was clear to me. But what of Wilhelmina/Grace? Now that is another matter. She has been ingratiating herself with the family, hasn't she? I can tell you how desperately she wants to be Mrs. Benedict Lansdon."

"What you are saying is horrible. Grace ... a murderess! I won't believe it."

"Of course, I might be wrong. But I just wanted to warn you. You see, you are next in line of fire. You can be sure Wilhelmina knows of Ben's feelings for you. And if you were not there, in a little while ... well, she was wonderful to Lizzie, wasn't she? He would appreciate all the help she gave him at the election. She's clever. If she hadn't such a rival, she could have a good chance of success."

"It's nonsense, Justin."

"Maybe, but it is a possibility. That was why I wanted you to see the diary ... because you should realize you are dealing with a woman of some purpose. She is strong. She manipulates. And Lizzie died so conveniently."

"But why would she have killed her then? It spoilt his chances at the election."

"People like Wilhelmina take the long view. If the moment was ripe ... she would seize it. This is conjecture, true. But I tell you because I think you ought to know."

"I suppose I must say Thank you, Justin. But I don't believe it. I just don't believe it."

He bowed his head and lifted his shoulders.

"I've done my best," he said.

Enlightenment

I was tormented by fears and doubts. What I had discovered through Justin unnerved me. I could not get Lizzie out of my mind; and I felt I should never know peace again.

Someone had killed her. My greatest fear was that it might have been Ben. I told myself again and again that if he had intended to kill her he would not have done so at such a time. If he were really so cynical as to marry her for a gold mine and then discard her when she was in the way, he would not have chosen to do it at such a time when he would know it would put an end to his ambitions for a parliamentary career. That was a thought I clung to. Then another idea came to me. Ben was clever. Perhaps he had deliberately chosen such a time because he knew that thought would occur to others.

I could not believe it. He was ambitious, ruthless perhaps ... but he had always been kind and courteous to Lizzie. He could never have planned cold-bloodedly to murder her.