“If you have cast your mind round the district one can only be surprised that you have any,” remarked Gavin. “Which brings us to the really burning question exercising all our minds: who did it?”
“I know,” said Abby sympathetically. “I've been thinking of that, and I haven't the ghost of a notion. Because it isn't enough to dislike a person, is it? I mean, there's got to be a bigger motive than that.”
“Besides,” said Charles caustically, “we have it on Mavis's authority that her uncle had no enemies.”
“Did she say that?” asked Gavin, awed.
“Yes, she did,” nodded Miss Patterdale. “When the detective questioned her. I must say, I thought that was going too far. Silly, too. The police are bound to find out that no one could bear the man.”
“But did you all stand by and allow this flight of fancy to go unchallenged?”
“Yes,” said Abby, “though I should think the detective must have known it was a whopper, if he happened to be looking at Charles when he said it. His jaw dropped a mile. The thing is you can't very well chip in and say the man was utterly barred, when his niece thinks he wasn't.”
“Well, I very nearly did,” confessed Miss Patterdale. “Because it's nonsense to say that Mavis thought he was liked in the neighbourhood. She knew very well he wasn't. It's all on a par with pretending to be heartbroken that he's dead. I don't say she isn't shocked—I am, myself—but she can't be sorry! I'll do her the justice to admit that she has always put a good face on things, and not broadcast the way he treated her, but I know from what she's told me, when he's been worse than usual, that she had a thoroughly miserable time with him.”
Gavin, who had been listening to this speech with a rapt look on his face, said: “Oh, I am glad I came to call on you! Of course she did it! It's almost too obvious!”
Abby gave an involuntary giggle, but Miss Patterdale said sharply: “Don't be silly!”