The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie Page A

I had? I thought she would go into hysterics - she's French, you know, and easily upset - I wanted to think over the best thing to do.'
    Anthony nodded, but did not speak.
    'You think it a pity, I can see?'
    'Well, it was rather unfortunate, Mrs Revel. If you and the maid had discovered the body together, immediately on your return, it would have simplified matters very much. The man would then definitely have been shot before your return to the house.'
    'Whilst now they might say he was shot after - I see -'
    He watched her taking in the idea, and was confirmed in his first impression of her formed when she had spoken to him on the steps outside. Besides beauty, she possessed courage and brain.
    Virginia was so engrossed in the puzzle presented to her that it did not occur to her to wonder at this strange man's ready use of her name.
    'Why didn't Elise hear the shot, I wonder?' she murmured.
    Anthony pointed to the open window, as a loud backfire came from a passing car.
    'There you are. London's not the place to notice a pistol shot.'
    Virginia turned with a little shudder to the body in the chair. 'He looks like an Italian,' she remarked curiously.
    'He is an Italian,' said Anthony. 'I should say that his regular profession was that of a waiter. He only did blackmailing in his spare time. His name might very possibly be Giuseppe.'
    'Good heavens!' cried Virginia. 'Is this Sherlock Holmes?'
    'No,' said Anthony regretfully. 'I'm afraid it's just plain or garden cheating. I'll tell you all about it presently. Now you say this man showed you some letters and asked you for money. Did you give him any?'
    'Yes, I did.'
    'How much?'
    'Forty pounds.'
    'That's bad,' said Anthony, but without manifesting any undue surprise. 'Now let's have a look at the telegram.'
    Virginia picked it up from the table and gave it to him. She saw his face grow grave as he looked at it.
    'What's the matter?'
    He held it out, pointing silently to the place of origin.
    'Barnes,' he said. 'And you were at Ranelagh this afternoon. What's to prevent you having sent it off yourself?'
    Virginia felt fascinated by his words. It was as though a net was closing tighter and tighter round her. He was forcing her to see all the thing which she had felt dimly at the back of her mind.
    Anthony took out his handkerchief and wound it round his hand, then he picked up the pistol.
    'We criminals have to be so careful,' he said apologetically.
    Suddenly she saw his whole figure stiffen. His voice, when he spoke, had altered. It was terse and curt. 'Mrs Revel,' he said, 'have you ever seen this pistol before?'
    'No,' said Virginia wonderingly.
    'Are you sure of that?'
    'Quite sure.'
    'Have you a pistol of your own?'
    'No.'
    'Have you ever had one?'
    'No, never.'
    'You are sure of that?'
    He stared at her steadily for a minute, and Virginia stared back in complete surprise at his tone.
    Then, with a sigh, he relaxed. 'That's odd,' he said. 'How do you account for this?'
    He held out the pistol. It was a small, dainty article, almost a toy - though capable of doing deadly work. Engraved on it was the name Virginia.
    'Oh, it's impossible!' cried Virginia.
    Her astonishment was so genuine that Anthony could but believe in it.
    'Sit down,' he said quietly, 'There's more in this than there seemed to be at first. To begin with, what's our hypothesis? There are only two possible ones. There is, of course, the real Virginia of the letters. She may have somehow or other tracked him down, shot him, dropped the pistol, stolen the letters, and taken herself off. That's quite possible, isn't it?'
    'I suppose so,' said Virginia unwillingly.
    'The other hypothesis is a good deal more interesting. Who ever wished to kill Giuseppe, wished also to incriminate you - in fact, that may have been their main object. They could get him easily enough anywhere, but they took extraordinary pains and trouble to get him here, and whoever they were they knew all about you, your cottage at Datchet, your