'Yes,' Hadley answered, nodding. 'That's it. Lester Bitton has shot himself.'
17. Death at Bitton House
During the ride in Hadley's car to Berkeley Square, the only words spoken were questions and answers on the little Hadley had been told about the tragedy.
'It happened about ten minutes before they phoned,' he explained. 'That was the butler talking. The household had been up late, and the butler was still' sitting up; he'd been ordered to wait for Sheila Bitton's return. He was in his pantry when he heard the shot, and he ran upstairs. The door of Lester Bitton's room: was open; he smelled the smoke. Bitton was lying across the bed in his room, with the gun in his hand.'
'What happened then?' Dr Fell demanded.
'Hobbes… that's the butler… tried to wake up Sir William. But he'd taken a sleeping-draught and the door of his room was locked; Hobbes couldn't rouse him. Then Hobbes remembered Miss Bitton's talking to us, and where we were, so he phoned on the chance of getting me.'
The moist, chill air whipped through the open windscreen the tyres of the car sang, and above the roofs there were stars. It had been very quiet, Hadley's handling of the situation. Sheila Bitton had not been told of her uncle's death. They had left her there, with Dalrye to break the news when they were gone.
'I'd better not take, her back to the house,' Dalrye had said. 'She'd only be in the way and she'd get hysterical… he was her favourite. I know a great friend of hers, a girl who lives in Park Lane. I'll drive her over there and get Margaret to put her up for the, night. Then I'll join you.'
The only thing that had surprised Rampole was the doctor's insistence that Hadley should see Arbor.
'Or, on second thoughts,' the doctor had added, 'you'd better let me see him. He still thinks I'm Chief Inspector Hadley. And if we try to explain matters at this stage, when he's in terror of his life, he may suspect all kinds of a put-up job.'