Through me she is willing to let it be known that she is absolutely convinced of Harry Garlett’s innocence. Further, she is inclined to believe that Mrs. Garlett, a bedridden invalid, who was known to have attacks of depression at times, administered the poison to herself!
The very fact that Mrs. Garlett was so deeply attached to her husband would of itself provide a motive to some of those who were acquainted with the poor lady. Among those acquaintances, however, Miss Jean Bower was not, for it is a curious fact that she had never even seen Mrs. Garlett.
Furthermore, her old friend can emphatically deny the cruel and stupid rumours that declare her to have been on friendly terms with Mr. Garlett before his wife’s death. Owing to a series of circumstances that will be made clear by the defence, Miss Bower, though actually in the employment of the Etna China Company, was only on the most distant terms with the company’s managing director.
As Elsie read on her first feeling of anger and disgust was insensibly transformed into one of satisfaction, though she frowned, or tried to frown, when, after a laudatory account of Bonnie Doon, of Dr. Maclean and of his wife, she came to the following paragraphs:
Last, and by no means least, in the group of people who compose this typical British household of worthy and high-minded folk, is Elsie MacTaggart, the cook.
Elsie is a clever, pugnacious Scotswoman, full of the mother wit and tender, homely wisdom that we all associate with the land which gave birth to J. M. Barrie. “It was a fair treat,” as one of those who was present told me, “to hear Elsie dealing with the swarm of reporters and press photographers that surrounded Bonnie Doon the day after Harry Garlett was arrested!”
Unlike the great majority of her brilliant fellow countrymen and countrywomen, she showed no favour, even to those of the press folk present who hailed from the other side of the Tweed. She held the fort, so to speak, with fine discrimination and courage, and it is largely thanks to her that no statement could be extracted even out of Dr. Maclean.
Elsie MacTaggart, in addition to her other gifts, is a splendid cook, and those who have the good fortune to be bidden as guests to Bonnie Doon all go home feeling utterly dissatisfied with their own porridge and griddle cakes.
“What a havering idiot the man seems to be!” said Elsie at last.
“Some there are as believe as what Mrs. Cole-Wright wrote that piece,” observed the milkman.