Death of an Airman by Christopher St. John Sprigg Read Free Book Online Page B

understand she kept quiet about it out of regard to Furnace’s reputation,” explained the Bishop, looking at her closely.
    â€œA hell of a lot she cares for anyone’s reputation! She nearly drove the poor fellow crazy and then dropped him like a hot cake. Bah!”
    â€œAll the same, she appears to have had the letter. Here it is.”
    Sally seized it and read it through with a puzzled expression. It changed to one of concern. “The letter’s genuine enough. Poor George! I could murder Laura. I don’t believe she has a vestige of a heart. Is it really necessary to drag all this up?”
    The Bishop did not answer immediately. “No,” he said at last, “I don’t think it is—not as it stands. It is not necessarily evidence that the crash was deliberate. Indeed, a suicide would be a slight matter compared with what I have discovered. The truth is, Miss Sackbut, Furnace was not dead when he was taken out of the aeroplane. He died subsequently. What that may mean, I hardly dare to think. In fact, for the moment I refuse, deliberately refuse, even to speculate.”

Chapter V
    Discovery of a Doctor
    Inspector Creighton put his pince-nez carefully on the desk in front of him and regarded them thoughtfully for a moment. Then he picked them up and polished them with an air of fury. He was silent throughout this operation, and the Bishop watched him in equal silence. An odd policeman, reflected the Bishop. He looked just like a shopwalker. He had the same precise clothing, vaguely soothing gesture, and imitation genteel voice.
    â€œReally, my lord,” said the Inspector, “this is a very remarkable suggestion you make.”
    â€œI make no suggestion,” replied the Bishop patiently. “I am merely presenting you with two facts. As far as I can see, they can have nothing to do with each other. Or, rather, if you believe one, the other is of little importance.”
    The Inspector picked up Furnace’s letter to Lady Laura and dropped it again helplessly. “Well, look at this. As I suspected all the time, it was a case of suicide. But now, what about the rigor business? Why didn’t you tell me of it before, my lord?” he asked plaintively.
    â€œMy observation became of no importance until I heard Bastable’s story,” explained the Bishop disingenuously. “Then it became plain that Furnace must have died very shortly before I was left alone with him. Until then, it seemed to be on the surface merely a case of rigor delayed, abnormally, but not more than might be possible. Bastable’s story gave an entirely different interpretation to it.”
    Inspector Creighton looked the Bishop straight in the eye. “You don’t put a sinister interpretation to it, do you?”
    â€œOf course not!” Dr. Marriott hastened to answer. “The letter makes it plain that Furnace intended to commit suicide. My discovery at present only shows that he did not make a perfect job of it. He died as a result of injuries received in the accident, but death did not take place immediately.”
    â€œI am glad you agree with me there. One has to go carefully, you understand. I mean Lady Laura is a person of influence. Naturally, that does not weigh with us directly, but it does remind us that if we do make a mistake, it will be all the more prominent.”
    The Bishop felt it was time to cease fencing. “Are you having an exhumation?” he asked bluntly.
    â€œH’m, yes,” admitted the Inspector. “We are having one. As a matter of form. Please remember that, my lord—a matter of form. We are applying for the order to-day.”
    â€œYou might keep me posted,” said the Bishop, “for various reasons.”
    â€œWe shall, of course, tell you in the unexpected event of anything coming to light at all out of the way, if you understand me. Most certainly we should. Let me show you to the door. This way, my