“No, no. I don’t suggest she could--er--not at all--but it was an unpleasant situation. Miss Sheridan was annoyed----”
“Miss Sheridan was annoyed with Miss Darcourt and Miss Darcourt was annoyed with Miss Sheridan. And Miss Sheridan goes out alone at night by the river and in the river we find her bag. That’s the case, then. Well, well.”
“Do you mean that Rose Darcourt murdered her?” Woodcote frowned at him.
“My dear fellow, you are in such a hurry. I mean that I could bear to know a little more about Miss Darcourt’s emotions. Do you think you could find out if she still wants to play this great part?”
“She may want,” said Woodcote bitterly. “She can go on wanting.”
“In point of fact,” said Eagle. “I--er--I had a letter this morning. She tells me--er--she wouldn’t consider acting in--er--in Mr. Woodcote’s play. She--er--says I misunderstood her. She never thought of it--er--doesn’t care for Mr. Woodcote’s work.”
Mr. Woodcote flushed. “That does worry me,” said he.
Whereon Superintendent Bell with careful official assurances got rid of them. They seemed surprised.
“That’s done it, sir,” said Bell. Reggie did not answer. He was cooing to a pigeon on the window-sill. “You’ve got it out of them. We’ll be looking after this Rose Darcourt.”
“They don’t like her, do they?” Reggie murmured. “Well, well. They do enjoy their little emotions.” He laughed suddenly. “Let’s tell Lomas.”
That sprightly man was reading an evening paper. He flung it at Bell’s head. “There you are. Six-inch headlines. ‘Famous Actress Vanishes.’ And now I do hope we shan’t be long. I wonder how she’ll manage her resurrection. Was she kidnapped by a Bolshevik submarine? U-boat in Boulter’s Lock. That would be a good stunt. And rescued by an aeroplane. She might come down on the course at Ascot.”
“He can’t take her seriously, Bell,” said Reggie. “It’s the other one who has his heart. Who ever loved that loved not at first sight? She captured him at a glance.”
Bell was shocked and bewildered. “What the deuce do you mean?” said Lomas.
“Lady Macbeth by the river. You know how she fascinated you.”
“Rose Darcourt?” Lomas cried. “Good Gad!”
“The morning after Sylvia Sheridan vanished, Rose Darcourt was looking unwell by the river and Sylvia Sheridan’s bag was found in the river just below Rose Darcourt’s house. Now the manager and the playwright tell us Rose has been trying to get the part which was earmarked for Sylvia, and Sylvia was cross about it. Since Sylvia vanished Rose has pitched in a letter to say she wouldn’t look at the part or the play. Consider your verdict.”