Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers Read Free Book Online Page B

certain newspaper, which is running her new book as a serial. They expect a scoop as the result of all this. But frankly, I don’t quite know what they’ll say to the expense of a fresh trial. I’m expecting to hear from them this morning.”
    “The vultures,” said Wimsey. “Well, they’d better carry on, but tell ’em I’ll see they’re guaranteed. Don’t bring my name in, though.”
    “This is very generous -”
    “Not at all. I wouldn’t lose the fun of all this for the world. Sort of case I fairly wallow in. But in return you must do something for me. I want to see Miss Vane. You must get me passed in as part of your outfit, so that I can hear her version of the story in reasonable privacy. Get me?”
    “I expect that can be done,” said Sir Impey. “In the meantime you have nothing to suggest?”
    “Haven’t had time yet. But I’ll fish out something, don’t you worry. I’ve already started to undermine the confidence of the police. Chief-Inspector Parker has gone home to twine willow-wreaths for his own tomb-stone.”
    “You’ll be careful,” said Sir Impey. “Anything we can discover will come in much more effectively if the prosecution don’t know of it beforehand.”
    “I’ll walk as on egg-shells. But if I find the real murderer (if any), you won’t object to my having him or her arrested, I take it?”
    “No; I won’t object to that. The police may. Well, gentlemen, if there’s nothing further at the moment, we’d better adjourn the meeting. You’ll get Lord Peter the facilities he wants, Mr. Crofts?
     
    Mr. Crofts exerted himself with energy and on the following morning, Lord Peter presented himself at the gates of Holloway Gaol, with his credentials.
    “Oh, yes, my lord. You are to be treated on the same footing as the prisoner’s solicitor. Yes, we have had a separate communication from the police and that will be quite all right, my lord. The warder will take you down, and explain the regulations to you.”
    Wimsey was conducted through a number of bare corridors to a small room with a glass door. There was a long deal table in it and a couple of repellent chairs, one at either end of the table.
    “Here you are, my lord. You sit at one end and the prisoner at the other, and you must be careful not to move from your seats, nor to pass any object over the table. I shall be outside and see you through the glass, my lord, but I shan’t be able to overhear nothing. If you will take a seat, they’ll bring the prisoner in, my lord.”
    Wimsey sat down and waited, a prey to curious sensations. Presently there was a noise of footsteps, and the prisoner was brought in, attended by a female wardress. She took the chair opposite to Wimsey, the wardress withdrew and the door was shut. Wimsey, who had risen, cleared his throat.
    “Good afternoon, Miss Vane,” he said, unimpressively.
    The prisoner looked at him.
    “Please sit down,” she said, in the curious, deep voice which had attracted him in Court. “You are Lord Peter Wimsey, I believe, and have come from Mr. Crofts.”
    “Yes,” said Wimsey. Her steady gaze was unnerving him. “Yes. I – er – I heard the case and all that, and – er – I thought there might be something I could do, don’t you know.”
    “That was very good of you,” said the prisoner.
    “Not at all, not at all, dash it! I mean to say, I rather enjoy investigating things, if you know what I mean.”
    “I know. Being a writer of detective stories, I have naturally studied your career with interest.”
    She smiled suddenly at him and his heart turned to water.
    “Well, that’s rather a good thing in a way, because you’ll understand that I’m not really such an ass as I’m looking at present.”
    That made her laugh.
    “You’re not looking an ass – at least, not more so than any gentleman should under the circumstances. The background doesn’t altogether suit your style, but you are a very refreshing sight. And I’m really very