"Derleth, August - Solar Pons - The Adventure of the Black Narcissus" - читать интересную книгу автора (Derleth August)

"At or near five o'clock."

"Where was the charwoman at that time?"

Jamison made an impatient movement. "She was upstairs, cleaning the floor above. She had a good alibi, if you are thinking of her connection with this. Deming's secretary left at half after four, and stood in the hall talking with the char, who had just come in and was going on upstairs; they talked until quarter of five. When she left, the char went upstairs. The char, incidentally, offers a good alibi for the secretary, for she says she saw Deming at work through the half open door. The broker upstairs, a fellow by the name of Welkins, was still in his office and vouches that the char got there at about quarter of five. She cleaned his office and then the hall; Welkins says he saw her cleaning the hall and stairs as late as twenty past five. Then she came down, cleaning as she went. When she came in here, she found Deming like this. That was about half after five. Welkins was still in his office then, working late, and he called us at once when he discovered why the char had screamed."

During this resume Pons had been looking around without comment. He had examined the body to his satisfaction and was now scrutinizing the desk, which was occupied by books, papers, a desk-pad, and the various accoutrements to be expected there. However, there remained unaccounted for a rather singular object which lay behind a book at the rear of the desk. Pons leaned over and picked it up; it was a single black narcissus, still rather fresh, for it gave off a faint perfume.

"Where was this when the body was found?"

"Near the head."

"So?" Pons placed the flower parallel to the head and stepped back. Jamison nodded thoughtfully.

"Yes, about like that. A little closer to his head, if anything."

"It was moved then. By whom?"

"The coroner, I think."

"Interesting. What do you make of it?"

Jamison was a little taken aback. "Why, nothing. Nothing at all." He hesitated and gazed at the flower again. "However, if you think it significant, I should be obliged to know why."

"Are you aware that a black narcissus is a rare and costly flower, and somewhat out of place in a situation like this? Surely you are not accustomed to finding black narcissi beside your corpses, Jamison! I should place this about one pound ten."

Jamison made a sound of disgust. "Oh rot, Pons! Deming was rich enough to buy a carload of the things. Why shouldn't he bring one of them to his office?"

"Ah, and if so, why shouldn't he put it into water, if not in his lapel? No, I'm afraid that will not wash, Jamison. Observe: it is still quite fresh. As a matter of fact, it was removed from the florist's not later than four o'clock this afternoon and reached this desk at approximately five, leaving, as you might have noticed, spots on the desk blotter ter--raindrops, I submit."

"What you mean is that the murderer brought it."

"Surely it would seem so? Why not just telephone Deming's secretary and ask her if Deming himself brought it after luncheon? Or if it was here in his office when she Ieft for the day. I'll wager she will admit to knowing nothing whatever of this curious flower."

Jamison looked at Pons in bafflement, his inability to follow the trend of Pons' thought quite discernible on his bluff features. There was, too, a suggestion of aggressive defiance. He turned just as Mecker, having been relieved by another constable below, came into the room, and gave the constable an order to telephone the secretary, who had been asked to remain at her home pending conclusion of the initial phase of the investigation.

Pons now returned to the body and bent to examine the hilt of the knife, looking at it from all sides.

"You noticed this legend burned into the handle, I daresay?" he asked thoughtfully.

"Yes. From Emily."

"Does it not suggest to you that Deming knew someone named Emily?"

"Oh, that is possible, but surely you don't propose that the murderer left a calling card?"

Pons smiled grimly. "I should hardly need to suggest so obvious a fact. I gave that to you."

"Look, Pons--the knife . . ."