They Do It With Mirrors

Lewis Serrocold came into the office and immediately the whole focus of the room shifted. He turned to close the door behind him, and in doing so he created an atmosphere of privacy. He walked over and sat down, not in the chair Miss Marple had just vacated, but in his own chair behind the desk. Miss Bellever had settled Inspec-tor Curry in a chair drawn up to one side of the desk, as though unconsciously she had reserved Lewis Serro-cold's chair against his coming.

When he had sat down, Lewis Serrocold looked at the two police officers thoughtfully. His face looked drawn and tired. It was the face of a man who was passing through a severe ordeal, and it surprised Inspector Curry a little because, though Christian Gulbrandsen's death must undeniably have been a shock to Lewis Serrocold, yet Gulbrandsen had not been a close friend or relation, only a rather remote connection by marriage.

In an odd way, the tables seemed to have been turned.

It did not seem as though Lewis Serrocold had come into the room to answer police questioning. It seemed rather that Lewis Serrocold had arrived to preside over a court of inquiry. It irritated Inspector Curry a little.

He said briskly:

'Now, Mr Serrocold -'

Lewis Serrocold still seemed lost in thought. He said with a sigh: 'How difficult it is to know the right thing to do.' Inspector Curry said: 'I think we will be the judges of that, Mr Serrocold.

Now about Mr Gulbrandsen, he arrived unexpectedly, I understand?' 'Quite unexpectedly.' 'You did not know he was coming.' 'I had not the least idea of it.' 'And you have no idea of why he came?' Lewis Serrocold said quietly: 'Oh yes, I know why he came. He told me.' 'When?' 'I walked up from the station. He was watching from the house and came out to meet me. It was then that he explained what had brought him here.' 'Business connected with the Gulbrandsen Institute, I suppose?' 'Oh no, it was nothing to do with the Gulbrandsen Institute.' 'Miss Bellever seemed to think it was.' 'Naturally. That would be the assumption. Gulbrandsen did nothing to correct that impression. Neither did I.' 'Why, Mr Serrocold?' Lewis Serrocold said slowly: 'Because it seemed to both of us important that no hint should arise as to the real purpose of his visit.' 'What was the real purpose?' Lewis Serrocold was silent for a minute or two. He sighed.

'Gulbrandsen came over here regularly twice a year for meetings of the trustees. The last meeting was only a month ago. Consequently he was not due to come over again for another five months. I think, therefore, that anyone might realize that the business that brought him must definitely be urgent business, but I still think that the normal assumption would be that it was a business visit, and that the matter, however urgent - would be a Trust matter. As far as I know, Gulbrandsen did nothing to contradict that impression - or thought he didn't. Yes, perhaps that is nearer the truth - he thought he didn't.' 'I'm afraid, Mr Serrocold, that I don't quite follow you.' Lewis Serrocold did not answer at once. Then he said gravely: 'I fully realize that with Gulbrandsen's death - Which was murder, undeniably murder, I have got to put all the facts before you. But frankly, I am concerned for my wife's happiness and peace of mind. It is not for me to dictate to you, Inspector, but if you can see your way to keeping certain things from her as far as possible I shall be grateful. You see, Inspector Curry, Christian Gulbrandsen came here expressly to tell me that he believed my wife was being slowly and cold-bloodedly poisoned.' 'What?' Curry leaned forward incredulously.

Serrocold nodded.

'Yes, it was, as you can imagine, a tremendous shock to me. I had had no suspicion of such a thing myself, but as soon as Christian told me, I realized that certain symptoms my wife had complained of lately were quite compatible with that belief. What she took to be rheumatism, leg cramps, pain, and occasional sickness.