Death in Ecstasy. Ngaio Marsh

stayed in the entrance, so Nigel did not relock the doors. He returned to the chancel.

      â€˜I’m glad that part is over,’ he said to Alleyn.

      â€˜What? Oh, the body.’

      â€˜You appear to be lost in the folds of your professional abstraction,’ remarked Nigel tartly. ‘Pray, what are you going to do next?’

      â€˜Your style is an unconvincing mixture of George Moore and Lewis Carroll, my dear Bathgate. I am about to interview the ladies and gentlemen. I dislike this affair. I dislike it very much. This is a beastly place. Why did you come to it?’

      â€˜I really can’t tell you. I was bored and I saw the sign swinging in the rain. I came in search of adventure.’

      â€˜And I suppose, with your habitual naîveté, you consider that you have found it. Fox, have you made your plan?’

      â€˜Not quite finished, sir, but I’ll carry on quietly.’

      â€˜Well, give an ear to the conversation. When we get to M. de Ravigne, you may like to conduct the examination in French.’

      Fox smiled blandly. He had taken a course of gramophone lessons in French and now followed closely an intermediate course on the radio.

      â€˜I’m not quite up to it as yet, sir,’ he said, ‘but I’d be glad to listen if you feel like doing it yourself.’

      â€˜Bless you, Fox, I should make a complete ass of myself. Got your prints, Bailey?’

      â€˜I’ve been over the ground,’ said Detective-Sergeant Bailey guardedly.

      â€˜Then call in the first witness. Find out if any of them are particularly anxious to get away, and I’ll take them in order of urgency.’

      â€˜Very good, sir.’

      Bailey, with an air of mulish indifference, disappeared through the altar door. In a moment he came back.

      â€˜Gentleman just fainted,’ he grumbled.

      â€˜Oh, Lord!’ apostrophized Alleyn. ‘Have a look, will you, Curtis? Which is it, Bailey?’

      â€˜One of those affairs in purple shirts, the dark one.’

      â€˜My oath,’ said Alleyn.

      Dr Curtis uttered a brief ‘Tsss!’ and disappeared. Bailey emerged with Father Garnette.

      â€˜I’m extremely sorry to have kept you waiting, sir,’ said Alleyn, ‘but you will understand that there were several matters to deal with. Shall we go down into the chairs there?’

      Garnette inclined his head and led the way. He seated himself unhurriedly and hid his hands in his wide sleeves. Fox, all bland detachment, strolled to a nearby pew and seemed to be absorbed in his sketch-plan of the chancel and sanctuary. Nigel, at a glance from Alleyn, joined Inspector Fox and took out his notebook. A shorthand report of the interviews would do no harm. Father Garnette did not so much as glance at Nigel and Fox. Alleyn pulled forward a large fald-stool and sat on it with his back to the flickering torch. The priest and the policeman regarded each other steadily.

      â€˜I am appalled,’ said Father Garnette loudly. His voice was mellifluous and impossibly sorrowful. ‘Ap-PALL-ed.’

      â€˜Unpleasant business, isn’t it?’ remarked Alleyn.

      â€˜I am bewildered. I do not understand, as yet, what has happened. What unseen power has struck down this dear soul in the very moment of spiritual ecstasah?’

      â€˜Cyanide of potassium I think,’ said Alleyn coolly, ‘but of course that’s not official.’

      The embroidery on the white sleeves quivered slightly.

      â€˜But that is a poison,’ said Father Garnette.

      â€˜One of the deadliest,’ said Alleyn.

      â€˜I am appalled,’ said Father Garnette.

      â€˜The possibility of suicide will have to be explored, of course.’

      â€˜Suicide!’

      â€˜It does not seem likely, certainly. Accident is even more improbable, I should say.’

      â€˜You mean, then, that she – that she – that murder has been done!’

      â€˜That will be for a jury to decide. There will be an inquest, of course. In the meantime there are one or two questions I should like to ask you, Mr Garnette. I need not remind you that you are not obliged to answer them.’

      â€˜I know nothing of such matters. I simply wish to do my duty.’

      â€˜That’s excellent, sir,’ said Alleyn politely. ‘Now as regards the deceased. I’ve got her name and address, but I should like to learn a little more about her. You knew her personally as well as officially, I expect?’

      â€˜All my children are my friends. Cara Quayne was a very dear friend. Hers was a rare soul, Inspector – ah?’

      â€˜Alleyn, sir.’

      â€˜Inspector Alleyn. Hers was a rare soul, singularly fitted for the tremendous spiritual discoverahs to which it was granted I should point the way.’

      â€˜Oh, yes. For how long has she been a member of your congregation?’

      â€˜Let me think. I can well remember the first evening I was aware of her. I felt the presence of something vital, a kind of intensitah, a – how can I put it? – an increased receptivitah. We have our own words for expressing these experiences.’

      â€˜I hardly think I should understand them,’ remarked Alleyn dryly. ‘Can you give me the date of her first visit?’

      â€˜I believe I can. It was on the festival of Aeger. December the fifteenth of last year.’

      â€˜Since then she has been a regular attendant?’

      â€˜Yes. She had attained to the highest rank.’

      â€˜By that you mean she was a Chosen Vessel?’

      Father Garnette bent his extraordinary eyes on the inspector.

      â€˜Then you know something of our ritual, Inspector Alleyn?’

      â€˜Very little, I am afraid.’

      â€˜Do you know that you yourself are exceedingly receptive?’

      â€˜I receive facts,’ said Alleyn, ‘as a spider does flies.’

      â€˜Ah.’ Father Garnette nodded his head slowly. ‘This is not the time. But I think it will come. Well, ask what you will, Inspector.’

      â€˜I gather that you knew Miss Quayne intimately – that in the course of her preparation for tonight’s ceremony you saw a great deal of her.’

      â€˜A great deal.’

      â€˜I understand she took the name of Frigga in your ceremony?’

      â€˜That is so,’ said Father Garnette uneasily.

      â€˜The wife of Odin, I seem to remember.’

      â€˜In our ritual the relationship is one of the spirit.’

      â€˜Ah, yes,’ said Alleyn. ‘Had you any reason to believe she suffered from depression or was troubled about anything?’

      â€˜I am certain of the contrarah. She was in a state of tranquilitah and joy.’

      â€˜I