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“She knows hiht,” said Father

“Do you really think so?” asked Sergeant Wadell

“I know it She had tea with hio”

“How did you find that out?”

“Old lady told irl He isn’t of course”

“Especially if he and the ossip—”

“Yes May be true, may not Probably is”

“In that case which one is he really after?”

Father ignored that point He said:

“I want him picked up I want him badly His car’s here—just round the corner”

“Do you think hein this hotel?”

“Don’t think so It wouldn’t fit into the picture He’s not supposed to be here If he cairl She definitely came to meet him, I’d say”

The door opened and Bess Sedgwick reappeared

“I came back,” she said, “because I wanted to speak to you”

She looked from him to the other two men

“I wonder if I could speak to you alone? I’ve given you all the information I have, such as it is; but I would like a word or tith you in private”

“I don’t see any reason why not,” said Chief-Inspector Davy Hedetective-constable took his notebook and went out Wadell ith him “Well?” said Chief-Inspector Davy

Lady Sedgwick sat down again opposite him

“That silly story about poisoned chocolates,” she said “It’s nonsense Absolutely ridiculous I don’t believe anything of the kind ever happened”

“You don’t, eh?”

“Do you?”

Father shook his head doubtfully “You think your daughter cooked it up?”

“Yes B

ut why?”

“Well, if you don’t knohy,” said Chief-Inspector Davy, “how should I know? She’s your daughter Presumably you know her better than I do”

“I don’t know her at all,” said Bess Sedgwick bitterly “I’ve not seen her or had anything to do with her since she o years old, when I ran away from my husband”

“Oh yes I know all that I find it curious You see, Lady Sedgwick, courts usually give the uilty party in a divorce, custody of a young child if she asks for it Presumably then you didn’t ask for it? You didn’t want it”

“I thought it—better not”

“Why?”

“I didn’t think it was—safe for her”

“On rounds?”

“No Not on rounds Plenty of adultery nowadays Children have to learn about it, have to groith it No It’s just that I am not really a safe person to be with The life I’d lead wouldn’t be a safe life You can’t help the way you’re born I was born to live dangerously I’ht it would be better for Elvira, happier, to have a proper English conventional bringing-up Shielded, looked after…”

“But minus a mother’s love?”