Part 10 (1/2)
Battle once more produced the stilleto.
Major Despard's lip twisted slightly.
”No,” he said. ”I didn't mark it down on that occasion for future use.”
”There's no need to go ahead of what I say, Major Despard.”
”I beg your pardon. The inference was fairly obvious.”
There was a moment's pause, then Battle resumed his inquiries.
”Had you any motive for disliking Mr. Shaitana?'
”Every motive.”
”Eh?” The superintendent sounded startled.
”For disliking him--not for killing him,” said Despard. ”I hadn't the least wish
to kill him, but I would thoroughly have enjoyed kicking him. A pity. It's too late
now.”
”Why did you want to kick him, Major Despard?”
”Because he was the sort of Dago who needed kicking badly. He used to make the toe of my boot fairly itch.”
”Know anything about him--to his discredit, I mean?”
”He was too well dressed he wore his hair too long--and he smelt of scent.”
”Yet you accepted his invitation to dinner,” Battle pointed out.
”If I were only to dine in houses where I thoroughly approved of my host I'm
afraid I shouldn't dine out very much, Superintendent Battle,” said Despard dryly.
”You like society, but you don't approve of it?” suggested the other.
”I like it for very short periods. To come back from the wilds to lighted rooms and women in lovely clothes, to dancing and good food and laughter--yes, I enjoy that for a time. And then the insincerity of it all sickens me, and I want to be off
”It must be a dangerous sort of life that you lead, Major Despard, wandering about in these wild places.”
Despard shrugged his shoulders. He smiled slightly.
”Mr. Shaitana didn't lead a dangerous life--but he is dead, and I am alive!”
”He may have led a more dangerous life than you think,” said Battle meaningly.
”What do you mean?”
”The late Mr. Shaitana was a bit of a Nosey Parker,” said Battle.