The Pleasure Cruise Mystery (17 page)

“That's satisfactory. The Colvins agreed with me that it was the best thing to do.”

“Any more news about the missing necklace?”

“I recovered the property and returned it to them.”

“Splendid. How the devil did you work the miracle?”

“It was a simple matter. But we'll keep to our agreement. I'll tell you all about it when the ‘Mars' reaches London again.”

“Very good. Any irrelevant questions to ask?”

“Only one. What kind of a drug is nembutal, doctor?”

“Ah, I can tell you very little about it, because I've never had occasion to prescribe it. It belongs to the barbituric group of hypnotic drugs, such as veronal, medinal, luminal and others. It's a new drug, and even experts have not finally determined the dosage. It evidently has toxic effects, and in a recent inquest Sir William Willcox, the Home Office analyst, was reported in the Press to have said that in his opinion it was a dangerous drug. That's as much as I can tell you about it.”

“Would it produce prolonged unconsciousness?”

“An overdose certainly would, I should say. There might be a considerable period of coma before death.”

“That's extremely interesting; it fits in so aptly with one of my theories.”

“Still puddling in romance, Mr. Vereker?”

“No, doctor, only piecing together deadly realities.”

At this point the conversation turned on other topics, and an hour later Vereker rose, thanked the doctor for his hospitality and was about to leave.

“I'd like to ask you one question before you go, Mr. Vereker,” said Macpherson.

“Out with it, doctor.”

“What was your idea in getting the Colvins to disembark at Lisbon with Mrs. Mesado's body?”

“That's not sticking to our agreement, doctor. You must wait and see. In detective work one has to leave nothing to chance. Every possible line of inquiry must be explored. Many of these lines only end in culs-de-sac and are a deadly waste of time, but none of them can be ignored.”

“I'll bet you have the idea of an exhumation later on. You can't hoodwink me,” said the doctor pertinently.

“Good night, doctor,” replied Vereker with a laugh and closed the door behind him.

When Vereker entered his cabin he found Ricardo lounging in a comfortable chair smoking a cigarette.

“You're late, Algernon. I believe you've made a conquest. I saw you in earnest conversation today with that silver-haired grandame who affects a monocle and wears buttoned boots. I believe you've been helping her to take off her bottines, you cunning old bambocheur!”

“You mean Lady Hildenborough? Charming woman of the old school, Ricky. Victorian and as fragrant as lavender!”

“She reminds me of a hansom cab. I can't explain why, Algernon.”

“I saw you at the show with Miss Penteado. Did you gather any information?”

“I've learned a good deal of the history of the Diss sisters.”

“And who are they?”

“Beryl and Constance, or, if you prefer it, Mrs. Mesado and Mrs. Colvin.”

“That's useful. How many sisters were there?”

“Three. Beryl, whose body lies in the ship's hospital; Constance, alive on board; and Amy, who died when she was a girl of seventeen. They come from Fakenham, in Norfolk. Their father was rather well off once upon a time, but got through most of his money. Constance married Colvin, who once had a bailiff's job on a large Norfolk estate, but lost it down his throat. Beryl went on the stage, into the ballet, and was on the way to becoming a premiere danseuse when she made the acquaintance of Mesado, the meat millionaire. Strange how these monsters of modern industrialism succumb to the delicate enchantment of a fine body inspired with rhythm! He married her. Colvin, as I've told you before, got a parasitic job from his brother-in-law and has lived the life of a country gentleman ever since.”

“And did you get any other information about Amy?”

“None whatever, except that there was some mystery about her death.”

“That's not very helpful. Are the Penteados old friends of the Mesados?”

“I can't quite get at the truth from Rosaura on this point. She equivocates, and I think there's a minor mystery hidden there. Père Penteado and Mesado were warm friends through chilled meat. The former died about a year ago and left his millions to his wife for life, and in reversion to his daughter. Rosaura got on very well with Beryl up to a point. Says Beryl was a jealous, temperamental woman with the very devil of a temper and most difficult to live with. Guillermo she thinks a most charming man, but very fond of the fair sex.”

“Was that the cause of the recent trouble with his wife?”

“Presumably. There was a woman in the case, but Rosaura doesn't know who. Beryl believed in Romantic Love and, like many people, thought marriage put a full stop to amatory diversion.”

“I'm old-fashioned enough to think it ought to,” remarked Vereker gravely.

“I'm old enough to know that it frequently doesn't, Algernon. I wouldn't be surprised if in the near future jealousy is considered a crime punishable with seven years' ‘hard'. You must admit it's an unsocial trait in human nature.”

“Had they separated?”

“Guillermo has presumably gone back to the Argentine. Beryl, before leaving England, put up the house and furniture in Sussex, which is her property, for sale.”

“Was there going to be a divorce?”

“No mention of it. The fight had just commenced. Opening bombardment, so to speak.”

“What does Miss Penteado know of Miguel Dias?”

“Not very much, but is certain he's an adventurer.”

“Give any reasons for her conviction?”

“Only that her father always said so and warned her against him. Old Penteado evidently knew more of Dias than he ever cared to disclose.”

“She seems to be very thick with Dias in spite of paternal warnings.”

“Merely an oceanic flirtation—watery waste affair. Dias pays her marked attention probably with an eye on her reversion, and you can't blame a pretty woman for exercising her charms for Art's sake. Might as well try and stop a cat from sticking her claws into a ball of wool.”

“I saw you were present at
Passion's Dupe
.”

“Yes; it was unintentionally a delightful farce. We both ached with laughter, much to the annoyance of a reverend gentleman and his wife sitting in front, who doubtless thought us promising candidates for damnation. Where were you hiding?”

“Just behind Renée Gautier, who was seated next to Dias and in earnest conversation with him throughout the play. She's evidently very much in love with him.”

“But he's leaving the ‘Mars' at Lisbon tomorrow, and is going to stay at the Hotel do Parque, Estoril. He's been doing his best to persuade the Penteados to do the same.”

“They've refused?”

“Definitely. Is Renée going ashore with the Colvins?”

“No, she's going on further, and I want you to carry on the work of investigation. Dance attendance on the lady. You won't find that difficult, but you must be on the qui vive. In speaking to Dias she said you were an ingenuous youth and thought yourself a great success.”

“Good I won't be stupid enough to let her find out that I really am one. What did she say about you?”

“Called me a bit of a prig!” replied Vereker, smiling.

“You got off lightly. After all, a prig is a fellow whose perfect equilibrium is intensely annoying to wobblers. Do you think Renée's implicated in this Mesado death mystery?”

“She knows something about it, and so does Dias. From a fragment of their conversation that I overheard it appears they have a strangle-hold over the Colvins in the matter. You must try and find out what she knows.”

“I'll do my best, Algernon. How far is she going?”

“Dias is going to meet her at Barcelona, and they're travelling to Paris to get married. At least that's his story. She seemed disappointed at his leaving her, but apparently agreed that it was advisable owing to some danger that threatens him.”

“She's another of Passion's dupes. What d'you think is the danger? Is he responsible for Mrs. Mesado's death?”

“I can't say, but he's capable of anything, and we must treat them both as suspects in the meantime.”

“How long will you stay in Lisbon?”

“Only a few days. I shall try and keep an eye on Dias and the Colvins, and then I must get back to England by the Blue Star liner
Avila Star
. She's a pet boat of mine and is on her way back from Buenos Aires. If Dias turns up at Barcelona you might leave the ‘Mars' and follow him up. I'll go to London on my return and get Heather on the job. He may know something of our friend Dias. There'll be a little history of the gentleman in the records at Scotland Yard, if I'm not mistaken.”

“This is all very exciting, Algernon. I see that I'm going to enjoy myself.”

“I'm sure you will. The only danger is Miss Penteado. If she condescends to pay any attention to your advances you'll promptly throw up the whole business for another maudlin love affair. I know you pretty well by now, Ricky.”

“You can dismiss that danger from your mind, Algernon. Miss Penteado has confessed to me that she's in love. With whom do you think?”

“How should I know, Ricky?”

“Guillermo Mesado.”

“Good Lord, this is startling news! Was she the cause of the Mesado estrangement?”

“She didn't say. Good night. I'm going to in. I've given you something fresh to think about. Don't let it keep you awake. As for my falling in love, well:     

‘Out upon it I have loved

Three whole days together,

And am like to love three more

If it prove fair weather.'
”

I

Next morning Vereker rose early and wandered out on to the upper promenade deck. The air was warm, the sea calm and here and there in a blue sky sailed rounded masses of sun-steeped clouds. Only two or three of the more energetic passengers were up enjoying this sudden mergence of winter into summer. At breakfast Vereker met Ricardo. They were the only two who sat down to the meal at the captain's table, and Vereker seized the opportunity to give Manuel final instructions with regard to the work of investigation into the Pleasure Cruise Mystery. He was, if possible, to ingratiate himself with Renée Gautier and obtain any further information he could from her. He was not to be too disappointed if the results were meagre, for the task was going to be a formidable one seeing that that young lady was already on her guard. She might, however, be inveigled into shedding some light on the relations existing between Miss Penteado and Guillermo Mesado and disclosing if they had any bearing on the estrangement that had taken place between Mesado and his wife prior to the latter's death. He was also to follow up Dias and Gautier when they met at Barcelona and took train to Paris for their proposed marriage. Having settled these matters definitely and arranged a code for communications the two friends agreed to part provisionally.

During the remainder of the day Vereker kept aloof as much as possible from his fellow passengers. He looked in at the wireless office on the starboard side of the games deck and despatched a coded wireless message to his old friend Chief Inspector Heather of Scotland Yard. The message was a request to put Tankerton, a trusted private inquiry agent, to discover all he could about the Diss family of Fakenham, in Norfolk, and have his report ready on Vereker's return to London. Now that he was eager on the trail he chafed at every moment of unnecessary delay and found an idle day on board ship particularly exacerbating to his restless and impatient mood. He was frankly delighted when after lunch two massive and sullen rocks, the first glimpse of Portugal, rose up forbiddingly on the eastern horizon. Towards evening the range of mountains, the Sierra da Estrella, that runs parallel to the western coast, appeared, and their sharp-cut pinnacles, caught in the late sunshine and standing out dramatically against the deep azure of the sky, were almost fantastic in their rugged beauty. By some trick of association they reminded Vereker of bandits and grand opera, and then more prosaically that he must pack his trunk. This done, he exchanged his English money at the purser's office for escudos notes and was returning to his cabin when he ran into Colvin. The latter, in case they did not meet again before his disembarkation, wished Vereker good-bye and handed him his card bearing his English address.

“You must run down and see us when you come back from this cruise, Vereker,” he said cordially. “We'll do our best to make you comfortable. We are indebted to you for your kindness to us. Constance, as you know, is sole beneficiary under Beryl's will, and we shall be glad to entertain our friends at Firle House, Jevington.”

Vereker, after thanking him and promising to look him up as soon as he could seize an opportunity, asked: “Have you fixed on your hotel in Lisbon?”

“Yes, we are going to stay at Carcano's.”

“I know it—a very comfortable place. Staying long?”

“After the funeral we shall go on to Madrid, put up there for a few weeks and return overland.”

They parted with a handshake, and Vereker turned off the alleyway into his cabin. He glanced again at Colvin's card, which he still held in his hand, and stood lost in thought before placing it in his pocket book. He was thinking that Colvin was either playing a daring game of bluff or was satisfied that he had nothing to fear from any further meeting with him. On the face of it the man was either over-confident or innocent in the matter of the mysterious death of Mrs. Mesado, and in the light of his discoveries Vereker was inclined to think that willingly or unwillingly he was gravely implicated. For some moments his confidence in his deductions was shaken. Had he himself been too cocksure in drawing conclusions from the data he had collected, or would his theorising prove correct when he had probed deeper into this baffling tragedy? With swiftly returning assurance he dismissed the subject from his mind and picked up his book to return it to the library.