And Then There Were None. Агата Кристи

cold voice the judge said:

      ‘I knew nothing of Seton previous to the case.’

      Armstrong said to himself:

      ‘The fellow’s lying—I know he’s lying.’

      II

      Vera Claythorne spoke in a trembling voice.

      She said:

      ‘I’d like to tell you. About that child—Cyril Hamilton. I was nursery governess to him. He was forbidden to swim out far. One day, when my attention was distracted, he started off. I swam after him… I couldn’t get there in time… It was awful… But it wasn’t my fault. At the inquest the Coroner exonerated me. And his mother—she was so kind. If even she didn’t blame me, why should—why should this awful thing be said? It’s not fair—not fair…’

      She broke down, weeping bitterly.

      General Macarthur patted her shoulder.

      He said:

      ‘There there, my dear. Of course it’s not true. Fellow’s a madman. A madman! Got a bee in his bonnet! Got hold of the wrong end of the stick all round.’

      He stood erect, squaring his shoulders. He barked out:

      ‘Best really to leave this sort of thing unanswered. However, feel I ought to say—no truth—no truth whatever in what he said about—er—young Arthur Richmond. Richmond was one of my officers. I sent him on a reconnaissance. He was killed. Natural course of events in wartime. Wish to say resent very much—slur on my wife. Best woman in the world. Absolutely—Cæsar’s wife!’