“Very dark blue.”

“Ah, that’s funny again! So were the eyes of Miss Alvarez, and she was a Spaniard. When’s the inquest?”

“To-morrow, at eleven.”

“I shall be there. What’s the poison?”

“Prussic acid, so the doctor says. He said he could plainly smell it in her mouth when he came.”

Tempest moved to the side of the bed[93] and leant over the face. The faint odour of almonds was still perceptible.

[93]

“Yes, I can smell it myself. There won’t be much mystery about the manner of death.”

Tempest stayed until the body was removed, and wondered at the reverence with which it was handled by men who must have long been accustomed to death and callous at its manifestations, and then, saying good night to Parkyns, he left. As he did so he turned back. “I say, Parkyns, tell Yardley about it, and send word I’d particularly like him to come to the inquest, if he can manage it, as I think it will be an interesting case. There’s more here than there looks at first sight.”

“What do you mean by that, sir?”

“Ah, I’d like to think things over a bit.”

“Shall you give evidence or anything to-morrow, Mr. Tempest?”

“Oh, Lord, no! You needn’t be afraid[94] of me getting a rise out of any of your people. I’m not going to do that. To be perfectly frank, Parkyns, I don’t approve altogether of coroner’s inquests. They serve a useful purpose in deciding whether a death is a natural one or not. But I think they ought to stop there. They must hamper your people fearfully, if it is a case that has to come to you. I myself don’t believe in making things public till you can go straight and arrest your man. The coroner’s inquests only too often warn him to keep away.”

[94]

“I quite agree with you, sir. But still it’s the law, and we have to put up with it.”

“Yes, I know. But as it is the law, get ’em over, and a verdict given as quickly as possible, to leave your crowd with free hands. That’s what I 

 Prev. P 33/126 next