My brain was working rapidly, trying to think how a good detective would tackle this, what Daniel might do in these circumstances, and whether Inspector Henri, whom I had met at the scene, would know how to carry out a thorough investigation. My gaze moved around the elegant room, taking in the heavy swags of drapery, the paintings on the walls, the little cakes on the silver salver. It was the height of cultured living and it seemed so strange to be sitting here and discussing murder. “I think the fact that he was sitting in his chair is important,” I began slowly. “That indicates he probably knew the person who was in the room and was comfortable with him, or her. Perhaps he had been sitting chatting before he was stabbed. If it had been a burglar or someone had surprised him he would have jumped to his feet, turned to confront them, and then fallen to the floor. There would have been some signs of a struggle and the inspector said there weren’t.”

“Unless he did stand up but slumped back into his chair after he was stabbed,” Sid pointed out.

“I don’t know how you two can discuss this so calmly,” Gus said. “Murder is so terrible, and the fact that your life might be in danger, Sid…”

“We’ll get through this somehow,” Sid said. “Not the welcome we planned to give poor Molly, is it? And after what she had just been through in New York, and the awful rough crossing too. We had so many exciting things planned for you, Molly. If only you hadn’t become ill on the ship and had arrived on time none of this would have happened.”

“You can’t say that,” Gus said. “Don’t go blaming poor Molly.”

“Of course I’m not blaming her. I’m just saying the timing would have been different. We wouldn’t have gone to tea with Mary, would we?”

“It’s strange on what small coincidences our fate hangs,” Gus said.

On that profound note Mary Cassatt came back into the room.

Chapter 24

Twenty-four

“I thought I’d stay out of it and give you time to explain everything to your guest,” Mary Cassatt said. She came over to us and pulled up one of the curly-backed gilt chairs beside me. “A horrible business, is it not, Mrs. Sullivan?”

“The worst,” I said.

“They tell me that you are a real and proper detective,” Miss Cassatt said, giving me an encouraging smile. “We’re all hoping that you’ll be able to help them.”

“Neither real nor very proper, I’m afraid,” I said. “I gave up my business when I married…”