Crime at Tattenham Corner by Annie Haynes

and all see him?”
    â€œWe will leave her ladyship and Mr. Ellerby out of it for a moment,” the inspector said quietly. “Are you of your own knowledge prepared to swear it was Sir John Burslem you saw the night of his death?”
    The man stared at him. “Why, of course I am prepared to swear that it was Sir John.”
    â€œYou saw his face plainly?”
    â€œYes, sir! At least” – James hesitated and began to stammer – “not so very plainly perhaps, for he kept his motor cap on all the time, which I thought it was rather queer of him to do. And he wore a white choker thing round his neck, muffled up like, because he was going out again. But of course it was Sir John right enough!”
    â€œWell, I think that is all today, my man,” the inspector concluded. “Ask Mr. Ellerby to step this way, please.”
    James’s face had a bewildered expression as he went out.
    They had not long to wait for Ellerby, who was evidently expecting the summons. As he entered the inspector was struck by the indefinable change that had come over him. He looked years older than the man who had come down to Hughlin’s Wood to identify his dead master.
    â€œGood morning, Mr. Ellerby,” the inspector began genially. “I am sorry to trouble you, but there are a few little things that are worrying me, and I thought it might make matters clearer if we had a little talk together – you and I and Mr. Harbord. Shall we sit down to it, Mr. Ellerby?”
    He drew a chair into position carefully. It did not escape Harbord’s keen eyes that the valet, without moving it, twisted himself round so that he had his back to the light.
    â€œI am sorry to see you are not looking well, Mr. Ellerby,” the detective went on sympathetically. “But I am sure you have gone through enough lately to try the strongest man.”
    â€œYes, that I have, sir,” the valet agreed. “Nobody knows what the strain of this – this dreadful thing has been but those that have gone through it. Sir John, he was as dear to me as if he had been my own son. And to see him like that –”
    His voice failed. He drew out his handkerchief and blew his nose vigorously. 
    â€œIt must have been terrible for you.” The inspector looked the other way for a minute. “Such a shock too, for you had seen Sir John only a few hours before, hadn’t you?”
    â€œOf course I had, Mr. Stoddart, and looking no more like death than you or I do today.”
    â€œYes, that is a true saying – ‘In the midst of life we are in death,’” the inspector observed sententiously. “I wish you would tell me the story of that night, or rather the early morning of the third of June. I would not trouble you, Mr. Ellerby, but I know you are as anxious as we are to find out Sir John Burslem’s murderer.”
    â€œAs anxious? My God! I would give my life to have saved him, to avenge him!” Ellerby choked again.
    â€œTake your time, take your time!” the inspector encouraged. “Tell us about that last interview with Sir John and about your signing the paper, in your own words, please.”
    â€œWell, it was like this, although I am sure you have heard it again and again,” Ellerby began in a shaking voice. “Sir John had told me that he and her ladyship were going to Oxley, and he said I need not wait up for him – he often did. A most considerate master was Sir John; we shall never have another like him. So I was rather surprised when James came to tell me that Sir John wanted me. About one o’clock, I suppose it would be. I dressed as quickly as I could and went to the library. Sir John and her ladyship were both there. Sir John was writing at the table and her ladyship stood at the door. ‘Come in, Ellerby,’ she says. ‘Sir John wants you to witness his signature.’ Then she called to James and we went in together.