A Pocket Full of Rye

‘Can you give me particulars of his family?’

‘Mrs Fortescue is his second wife. She is much younger than he is. They were married about two years ago. The first Mrs Fortescue has been dead a long time. There are two sons and a daughter of the first marriage. The daughter lives at home and so does the elder son, who is a partner in the firm. Unfortunately he is away in the North of England today on business. He is expected to return tomorrow.’

‘When did he go away?’

‘The day before yesterday.’

‘Have you tried to get in touch with him?’

‘Yes. After Mr Fortescue was removed to hospital I rang up the Midland Hotel in Manchester where I thought he might be staying, but he had left early this morning. I believe he was also going to Sheffield and Leicester, but I am not sure about that. I can give you the names of certain firms in those cities whom he might be visiting.’

Certainly an efficient woman, thought the inspector, and if she murdered a man she would probably murder him very efficiently, too. But he forced himself to abandon these speculations and concentrate once more on Mr Fortescue’s home front.

‘There is a second son you said?’

‘Yes. But owing to a disagreement with his father he lives abroad.’

‘Are both sons married?’

‘Yes. Mr Percival has been married for three years. He and his wife occupy a self-contained flat in Yewtree Lodge, though they are moving into their own house at Baydon Heath very shortly.’

‘You were not able to get in touch with Mrs Percival Fortescue when you rang up this morning?’

‘She had gone to London for the day.’ Miss Griffith went on, ‘Mr Lancelot got married less than a year ago. To the widow of Lord Frederick Anstice. I expect you’ve seen pictures of her. In the Tatler—with horses, you know. And at point-to-points.’

Miss Griffith sounded a little breathless and her cheeks were faintly flushed. Neele, who was quick to catch the moods of human beings, realized that this marriage had thrilled the snob and the romantic in Miss Griffith. The aristocracy was the aristocracy to Miss Griffith and the fact that the late Lord Frederick Anstice had had a somewhat unsavoury reputation in sporting circles was almost certainly not known to her. Freddie Anstice had blown his brains out just before an inquiry by the Stewards into the running of one of his horses. Neele remembered something vaguely about his wife. She had been the daughter of an Irish Peer and had been married before to an airman who had been killed in the Battle of Britain.

And now, it seemed, she was married to the black sheep of the Fortescue family, for Neele assumed that the disagreement with his father, referred to primly by Miss Griffith, stood for some disgraceful incident in young Lancelot Fortescue’s career.

Lancelot Fortescue! What a name! And what was the other son—Percival? He wondered what the first Mrs Fortescue had been like? She’d had a curious taste in Christian names …

He drew the phone towards him and dialled TOL. He asked for Baydon Heath 3400.

Presently a man’s voice said:

‘Baydon Heath 3400.’

‘I want to speak to Mrs Fortescue or Miss Fortescue.’

‘Sorry. They aren’t in, either of ’em.’

The voice struck Inspector Neele as slightly alcoholic.

‘Are you the butler?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Mr Fortescue has been taken seriously ill.’

‘I know. They rung up and said so. But there’s nothing I can do about it. Mr Val’s away up North and Mrs Fortescue’s out playing golf. Mrs Val’s gone up to London but she’ll be back for dinner and Miss Elaine’s out with her Brownies.’

‘Is there no one in the house I can speak to about Mr Fortescue’s illness? It’s important.’

‘Well—I don’t know.’ The man sounded doubtful. ‘There’s Miss Ramsbottom—but she don’t ever speak over the phone. Or there’s Miss Dove—she’s what you might call the ’ousekeeper.’

‘I’ll speak to Miss Dove, please.’

‘I’ll try and get hold of her.’

His retreating footsteps were audible through the phone. Inspector Neele heard no approaching footsteps but a minute or two later a woman’s voice spoke.

‘This is Miss Dove speaking.’

The voice was low and well poised, with clear-cut enunciation. Inspector Neele formed a favourable picture of Miss Dove.

‘I am sorry to have to tell you, Miss Dove, that Mr Fortescue died in St Jude’s Hospital a short time ago. He was taken suddenly ill in his office. I am anxious to get in touch with his relatives—’

‘Of course. I had no idea—’ She broke off. Her voice held no agitation, but it was shocked. She went on: ‘It is all most unfortunate. The person you really want to get in touch with is Mr Percival Fortescue. He would be the one to see to all the necessary arrangements. You might be able to get in touch with him at the Midland in Manchester or possibly at the Grand in Leicester. Or you might try Shearer and Bonds of Leicester. I don’t know their telephone number, I’m afraid, but I know they are a firm on whom he was going to call and they might be able to inform you where he would be likely to be today. Mrs Fortescue will certainly be in to dinner and she may be in to tea. It will be a great shock to her. It must have been very sudden? Mr Fortescue was quite well when he left here this morning.’

‘You saw him before he left?’

‘Oh yes. What was it? Heart?’

‘Did he suffer from heart trouble?’

‘No—no—I don’t think so—But I thought as it was so sudden—’ She broke off. ‘Are you speaking from St Jude’s Hospital? Are you a doctor?’

‘No, Miss Dove, I’m not a doctor. I’m speaking from Mr Fortescue’s office in the city. I am Detective Inspector Neele of the CID and I shall be coming down to see you as soon as I can get there.’

‘Detective Inspector? Do you mean—what do you mean?’

‘It was a case of sudden death, Miss Dove; and when there is a sudden death we get called to the scene, especially when the deceased man hasn’t seen a doctor lately—which I gather was the case?’

It was only the faintest suspicion of a question mark but the young woman responded.

‘I know. Percival made an appointment twice for him, but he wouldn’t keep it. He was quite unreasonable—they’ve all been worried—’

She broke off and then resumed in her former assured manner.

‘If Mrs Fortescue returns to the house before you arrive, what do you want me to tell her?’

Practical as they make ’em, thought Inspector Neele.

Aloud he said:

‘Just tell her that in a case of sudden death we have to make a few inquiries. Routine inquiries.’

He hung up.