The Clocks - Christie Agatha. Страница 54

The body hitherto identified as that of Henry Castleton has been positively identified as Quentin Duguesclin.

Certain boards have been found stowed away in a corner of Bland’s building yard. Though hastily painted out, the wordsSNOWFLAKE LAUNDRY are plainly perceptible after treatment by experts.

I will not trouble you with lesser details, but the public prosecutor considers that a warrant can be granted for the arrest of Josaiah Bland. Miss Martindale and Mrs Bland are, as you conjectured, sisters, but though I agree with your views on her participation in these crimes, satisfactory evidence will be hard to obtain. She is undoubtedly a very clever woman. I have hopes, though, of Mrs Bland. She is the type of woman who rats.

The death of the first Mrs Bland through enemy action in France, and his second marriage to Hilda Martindale (who was in the N.A.A.F.I.) also in France can be, I think, clearly established, though many records were, of course, destroyed at that time.

It was a great pleasure meeting you that day, and I must thank you for the very useful suggestions you made on that occasion. I hope the alterations and redecorations of your London flat have been satisfactory.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Hardcastle

Further communication from R.H. to H.P.

Good news! The Bland woman cracked! Admitted the whole thing!!! Puts the blame entirely on her sister and her husband. She ‘never understood until too late what they meant to do’! Thought they were only ‘going to dope him so that he wouldn’t recognize she was the wrong woman’! A likely story! But I’d say it’s true enough that she wasn’t the prime mover. 

The Portobello Market people have identified Miss Martindale as the ‘American’ lady who bought two of the clocks.

Mrs McNaughton now says she saw Duguesclin in Bland’s van being driven into Bland’s garage. Did she really?

Our friend Colin has married that girl. If you askme,he’s mad. All the best.

Yours,

Richard Hardcastle