“Well, I've got very quick ears, sir. What's more, I was listening for it. I'm quite prepared to believe that if you were busy with your roses here you mightn't have heard it. In fact, I always was, but I'm glad you made me come: it's been worth it.” He strolled forward to inspect a bed planted with Betty Uprichard. “I noticed some nice roses at Fox House, but nothing to compare with yours.”
“That I can well believe!” said Mr. Drybeck. “I fancy my friend Warrenby cared very little for such things.”
“Did you know him well, sir?”
“Dear me, no! I can lay claim to nothing but the barest acquaintance with him. To be frank with you, I did not find him congenial, and considered him quite out of place in our little coterie here.”
“Seems to have been unpopular all round.” commented Hemingway.
“That is true. I should be surprised if I heard of his having been liked by anyone in Thornden. But pray do not misunderstand me, Chief Inspector! I flatter myself I know Thornden as well as any man, and I know of no one in my own circle who had the smallest cause to commit the terrible crime of murdering him. I am very glad you have come to see me, very glad indeed! There is a great deal of talk going on in the village, and I have been much shocked by some of the wild rumours I have heard. Rumours, I may say, that are set about by irresponsible persons, and have not the least foundation in fact. Imagination has run rife. But to the trained mind I venture to say that this case presents no very difficult problem, and is not susceptible to any fantastic solution.”
“Well, I'm glad of that,” said Hemingway. “Perhaps I'll be able to solve it.”
“I fear you will find it all too easy to do so. I have myself given the matter a good deal of thought, regarding it, if you understand me, in the light of a chess-problem. I am forced to the conclusion—the very reluctant conclusion!—that all the evidence points one way, and one way only. One person had the opportunity and the motive, and that person is the dead man's niece!”
Inspector Harbottle's jaw dropped. Recovering his countenance, he said in accents of strong disapprobation: “Setting aside the fact that it is rarely that a woman will use a gun—”
“That,” interrupted Mr. Drybeck smartly, “is what is said every time a woman does use a gun!”