"Very sorry to have to intrude on Mrs. Carter at such a moment miss," said the Inspector. "You'll understand that it's my duty to make certain inquiries."
Ermyntrude lowered the handkerchief from her eyes. "What have you done with his body?" she said tragically.
The Inspector glanced appealing towards Hugh, who took pity on his evident embarrassment, and tried to explain tactfully to Ermyntrude that Wally's body had been removed to the police mortuary.
"The mortuary!" Ermyntrude said in shuddering accents. "Oh my God!"
It was plain that the situation was fast getting out of the Inspector's control. Mary saw that it was her duty to pull herself together, and to assist the course of justice. She turned to the couch. "Dear Aunt Ermy, what does it matter what becomes of his body? Don't think about that! The Inspector wants to ask you some questions."
Ermyntrude found that her recumbent position made it impossible for her to fling wide her arms without hitting the sofa-back, so she sat up. "Have you no mercy?" she demanded of the horrified Inspector. "Haven't I borne enough without your coming here badgering and torturing me?"
"I'm sure, madam, I don't want to badger you!" expostulated the Inspector. "If you'll just '
"Ask me what you like!" said Ermyntrude, allowing her arms to fall, and bowing her golden head. "What do I care? What is there left for me to care for?" She clutched suddenly at Mary's hand, and said in far more natural tones: "Oh, Mary dear, the disgrace of it! Oh, I shall never get over it! Having the police in!"
The Inspector, who was beginning to feel like a leper, said defensively that he was sure there was no reason for her to take it that way, though he quite understood her feelings. "What I want to know is, was-there anyone who might have had any sort of grudge against your husband, madam? Anyone who'd quarrelled with him, for instance, or '
He broke off, for the effect of this question was very alarming. Ermyntrude almost leaped to her feet, and confronted him in an attitude that would have done credit to a Duse. "Are you accusing me of having done my husband to death?" she cried.