nurse in the hospital.’
‘Is that so, Lady O’Callaghan?’ said Fox politely.
‘My husband had peritonitis but I believe he died of poisoning. I believe he was poisoned.’
‘In view of these letters? These two, or the others?’
‘I do not know. I am inclined to regard the personal ones as being more important. They definitely threaten his life.’
‘Yes. Very vindictive, they seem to be.’
‘I wish to have an inquest.’
‘I see,’ said Fox. ‘Now that’s quite a serious matter, Lady O’Callaghan.’
A faint redness appeared in her cheeks. Another woman would possibly have screamed in his face.
‘Of course it is serious,’ she said.
‘I mean, if you understand me, that before an order is made for an inquest, the coroner who makes it has to be certain of one or two points. What about the death certificate, for instance?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, was one signed?’
‘Yes.’
‘By Sir John Phillips?’
‘I don’t know. Possibly. Mr Thoms, the assistant surgeon, may have signed it.’
‘Yes. Well, now, Mr Thoms is a well-known surgeon. Sir Derek was a distinguished patient. He would take every care before he signed. I think that would be considered sufficiently conclusive by the coroner.’
‘But these threats! I am convinced he was murdered. I shall demand an inquest.’
Fox stared gravely into the fire.
‘Perhaps,’ he said, rather ponderously, ‘perhaps you would like me to ring up the coroner and put the case before him.’
‘Certainly, if you will.’
‘It would be better if you could tell him, definitely, who signed the certificate.’
‘Mr Jameson, my husband’s secretary, may know. He had an appointment with the Prime Minister at three.’
‘It’s fifteen minutes to four.’
‘I shall ring up the House,’ she said, and did.
She got Ronald at last and asked her question.
‘It was Mr Thoms?’ she said into the telephone. Ronald’s voice quacked audibly in the room. ‘Yes. Thank you. Have you discussed the matter? I see. No, I think not, Mr Jameson; I am communicating directly with the police.’
She hung up the receiver and informed Fox that Thoms had signed the certificate.
Inspector Fox then rang up the coroner. He held a long and muffled conversation. The coroner talked a great deal and appeared to be agitated. Lady O’Callaghan listened. Her fingers drummed bonily on the arm of her chair. For her, it was a terrific gesture. At last Fox rang off.
‘It’s as I thought,’ he said. ‘He says he cannot interfere.’
‘Then I shall go direct to the Prime Minister.’
He got rather ponderously to his feet.
‘I don’t think I’d do that, Lady O’Callaghan—at least not yet. If you’ll allow me to I’d like to talk it over with my superior, Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn.’
‘Alleyn? I think I’ve heard of him. Isn’t he—’ She paused. Cicely O’Callaghan had nearly dropped a brick. She had been about to say ‘Isn’t he a gentleman?’ She must have been really very much perturbed to come within hail of such a gaffe. Inspector Fox answered her very simply.
‘Yes,’ he said, ‘he’s rather well known. He’s a very highly educated man. Quite a different type from me, you might say.’
Again a faint pink tinged her cheeks.
‘I’m grateful to you for the trouble you are taking,’ she told him.
‘It’s all in the day’s work,’ said Fox. ‘If you’ll excuse me, Lady O’Callaghan, I’ll get along. I’ll speak to the chief at once. If you’re agreeable, I’ll show him the correspondence.’
‘Yes.’
‘Thank you very much. I’ll wish you good afternoon.’
‘Will you have something to drink before you go?’
‘No, thank you. Very kind of you, I’m sure.’ He tramped to the door, turned and made a little bow.
‘I hope you’ll allow me to offer my sympathy,’ he said. ‘It’s a great loss to the nation.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Good afternoon, Lady O’Callaghan.’
‘Good afternoon, Inspector.’
So Inspector Fox went to the Yard to see Alleyn.
CHAPTER 6 Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn
Friday, the twelfth. Afternoon and evening.
‘Hallo, Brer Fox,’ said Alleyn, looking up from his desk. ‘Where’ve you been in your new bowler?’
‘Paying a call on the Snow Queen,’ replied Fox with unexpected imaginativeness. ‘And when I say “Snow Queen” I don’t mean cocaine, either.’
‘No? Then what do you mean? Sit down and have a smoke. You look perturbed.’
‘Well, I am,’ said Fox heavily. He produced a pipe and blew down it, staring solemnly at his superior. ‘I’ve been to see the wife of the late Home Secretary,’ he said.
‘What? You are coming on.’
‘Look here, chief. She says it’s murder.’
‘She says what’s murder?’
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