She looked, Inspector Curry reflected, exactly as the relict of a Canon of the Established Church should look — which was almost odd, because so few people ever did look like what they really were.

Even the tight line of her lips had an ascetic ecclesiastical flavour. She expressed Christian Endurance, and possibly Christian Fortitude. But not, Curry thought, Christian Charity.

Moreover it was clear that Mrs Strete was offended.

‘I should have thought that you could have given me some idea of when you would want me, Inspector. I have been forced to sit around waiting all the morning.’

It was, Curry judged, her sense of importance that was hurt. He hastened to pour oil on the troubled waters.

‘I’m very sorry, Mrs Strete. Perhaps you don’t quite know how we set about these things. We start, you know, with the less important evidence — get it out of the way, so to speak. It’s valuable to keep to the last a person on whose judgment we can rely — a good observer — by whom we can check what has been told us up to date.’

Mrs Strete softened visibly.

‘Oh I see. I hadn’t quite realized…’

‘Now you’re a woman of mature judgment, Mrs Strete. A woman of the world. And then this is your home — you’re the daughter of the house, and you can tell me all about the people who are in it.’

‘I can certainly do that,’ said Mildred Strete.

‘So you see that when we come to the question of who killed Christian Gulbrandsen, you can help us a great deal.’

‘But is there any question? Isn’t it perfectly obvious who killed my brother?’

Inspector Curry leant back in his chair. His hand stroked his small neat moustache.

‘Well — we have to be careful,’ he said. ‘You think it’s obvious?’

‘Of course. That dreadful American husband of poor Gina’s. He’s the only stranger here. We know absolutely nothing about him. He’s probably one of these dreadful American gangsters.’

‘But that wouldn’t quite account for his killing Christian Gulbrandsen, would it? Why should he?’

‘Because Christian had found out something about him. That’s what he came here for so soon after his last visit.’

‘Are you sure of that, Mrs Strete?’

‘Again it seems to me quite obvious. He let it be thought his visit was in connection with the Trust — but that’s nonsense. He was here for that only a month ago. And nothing of importance has arisen since. So he must have come on some private business. He saw Walter on his last visit, and he may have recognized him — or perhaps made inquiries about him in the States — naturally he has agents all over the world — and found out something really damaging. Gina is a very silly girl. She always has been. It is just like her to marry a man she knows nothing about — she’s always been man mad! A man wanted by the police, perhaps, or a man who’s already married, or some bad character in the underworld. But my brother Christian wasn’t an easy man to deceive. He came here, I’m sure, to settle the whole business. Expose Walter and show him up for what he is. And so, naturally, Walter shot him.’