Paul Temple and the Madison Case

‘From the way Stella’s going on about it I should say extremely valuable.’

Steve guessed that Mrs Portland had recovered from her shock sufficiently to give her late husband’s London representative a very difficult time.

‘She’s probably thinking of the sentimental value.’

‘I daresay she is, Mrs Temple, but surely at a time like this … to bother about a watch-chain … it seems most odd.’

‘Have you been in touch with the shipping line?’ Temple asked.

Greene was turning his head this way and that as questions came from three different directions.

‘Yes, I’ve even been on to Southampton!’

Temple had deliberately not offered Greene a drink nor invited him to sit down. He had not forgotten the abrupt way the man had ended their conversation on Princess Diana.

‘Well, quite frankly, I don’t see what I can do.’

‘I was wondering if by any chance you can recall seeing the chain. If I remember rightly you saw Sam shortly after – after he died.’

‘The only time I saw it was the morning he introduced himself to me. It was a thin gold chain with an English penny on the end. He kept the penny in his waistcoat pocket.’

‘I don’t know anything about that. All I know is I wish to goodness we could find the chain!’

‘Where is Mrs Portland staying?’

‘She’s at the Ritz but there’s some talk of her coming down to my place for the weekend.’

‘Is she alone?’ Steve asked with some concern.

‘No, George Kelly’s with her and Moira’s moving in tomorrow morning.’

‘Who’s Moira?’ Forbes wanted to know.

‘It’s her step-daughter.’

‘Have they met before, by the way?’ Temple asked.

‘Yes, they met about six months ago in New York.’

As no one else had made a move to sit down Forbes abandoned his chair and got to his feet.

‘Mr Greene, I understand from what Temple tells me, that you’re in charge of the Portland Corporation in this country.’

‘Yes, Sir Graham.’

‘When did you last see Portland?’

‘About four years ago.’

‘Was Portland over here?’

‘No, I was in America. So far as I know this was Sam’s first trip to Europe.’ Greene had got the message that his intrusion so late in the evening had not made him exactly popular. He began to move towards the door. ‘Well, I’m sorry to have bothered you, Mr Temple. I thought perhaps you might be able to throw some light on the missing watch-chain.’

‘If I were you I should try and get in touch with the Purser.’

‘Yes, I’ll do that.’

‘Can I give you a lift?’ Forbes offered surprisingly. ‘I was just about to make a move.’

‘Well, actually I’m on my way to Park Lane. If you could drop me I’d be very grateful.’

‘Yes, certainly.’

‘Paul …’ Steve had waited till she heard two doors closing, the front door and that of Charlie’s own private little flatlet. ‘Do you think the doctor was mistaken about Portland? Do you think we’ve all been mistaken and – he was murdered?’

‘No, I don’t. But there’s one thing I’m rather curious about, Steve.’

‘What’s that – the watch-chain?’

‘Yes. I’m going to have a word with Mrs Portland.’

‘Oh, darling, not at this time of night!’

Temple was already at the telephone table. ‘I’ve got a hunch it’s important.’ He opened the telephone book and ran his finger down the column till he found the number.

Shaking her head half in exasperation and half in affection, Steve went to the drinks cabinet and poured herself a small measure of brandy. Behind her she heard Paul stabbing the numbers, talking to The Ritz switchboard and finally getting through to Mrs Portland’s suite. Her voice came over loudly on the ’phone and Steve was able to hear both sides of the conversation.

‘Mrs Portland? This is Paul Temple here.’

‘Oh, good evening, Mr Temple!’

Temple quickly distanced the ’phone a few inches from his ear. ‘Forgive me ringing at this time of the night, Mrs Portland, but I’ve just been having a chat with Mr Greene. He tells me that you’ve lost your husband’s watch-chain.’

‘Is Hubert with you at the moment?’

‘No, he’s just this second left.’

‘I’ve got the chain, Mr Temple, there’s no need to worry about it.’

‘You mean you’ve found it?’

‘No, I mean it was never lost. I – I had it all the time.’

‘I see,’ said Temple, trying to conceal his annoyance at the false alarm.

‘I doubt very much whether you do see, Mr Temple.’ Mrs Portland paused. ‘Are you likely to be passing my hotel tomorrow?’

‘Yes, I might be. Probably in the morning.’