Their next stop was Crawley House to question Lord and Lady Merton. The elderly couple reacted in horror at the news that the Duke had been poisoned. "Who would want to kill that nice young man?" Isobel asked in disbelief.
"And who could have done such a thing?" her husband added.
Japp replied dryly, "That's what we're trying to find out. Do you know anything that might help us?"
"I'm afraid not. We'd never met him before that night and spoke only briefly," Dickie explained.
Isobel became curious. "What kind of poison was used?"
"Arsenic," Sgt. Willis told her.
She nodded absently. "Odorless and tasteless."
Japp looked up in surprise. "You know about poisons?"
"I trained as a nurse in the South African war."
"And I've done a bit of reading on the subject." Dickie chuckled. "Goodness! I'm afraid we're rather incriminating ourselves."
"Not at all, Lord Merton, but if you think of anything, please let us know."
The officers headed to the village school, timing their arrival to coincide with the end of the academic day. Joseph Molesley was just packing up his things when the pair entered the classroom. "Hello, Mr. Molesley," Sgt. Willis greeted him. "This is Insp. Japp from Scotland Yard. I wonder if we might ask you a few questions about Saturday night."
Japp jumped in. "It seems that the Duke of Crowborough was poisoned. As you were the last person to see him that night and the one to discover the body the next morning, we wondered what you could tell us."
The teacher had gone pale, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly. "I don't know anything about it. He was alive when I left him that night and dead when I found him the next morning."
The Inspector busily scribbled an entry in his notebook.
"I'm not a suspect, am I, Inspector?" Molesley asked anxiously.
"Until the killer is found, everyone who was in that house on Saturday evening is a suspect. Good day to you, Mr. Molesley."
The two men made their way to the Dower House where they were announced by the butler. They entered the drawing room to find Violet perched regally in an armchair. Sgt. Willis spoke first. "We're sorry to disturb you, Your Ladyship, but we're investigating the death of the Duke of Crowborough. The coroner's report indicates that he was poisoned."
"So my son informed me. Are you here to arrest me, Sergeant?"
Willis stifled a chuckle. The Dowager's sense of humor was legendary in the village.
"We just have a few questions to ask you," Japp replied. "How well did you know the Duke?"
"I didn't know him at all really. We met once before the war when he was staying as a guest at the Abbey. I hadn't set eyes on him again until last Saturday."
"I believe on his previous visit, there was some talk of a possible engagement between him and Lady Mary."
The old woman fixed the Scotland Yard man with an icy glare. "My granddaughter has been twice blessed in marriage, Inspector, first to my son's late heir and now to Mr. Talbot."
The men knew they were being dismissed and took their leave. "She's quite a character," Japp observed. He looked at his notebook. There was only one name left on his list—Charles Carson.
They found the older man at his cottage working in the garden. He looked up at the policemen's approach. "What can I do for you gentlemen?"
After identifying himself, Insp. Japp shared the results of the autopsy with the expressionless pensioner. "You don't seem very surprised, if I may say so."
"A good servant is always in control of his emotions."
"You were the butler at the Abbey for many years."
"I'd be there still if it weren't for the shaking in my hands." Carson's face registered his regret.
"But you were asked back to supervise the house party."
"It was His Lordship's wish that I manage things. He didn't want Mr. Barrow to become overwhelmed by it all."
Japp studied the imposing man. "You are fond of the Crawley family."
Carson paused before replying, "I am devoted to them, Inspector."
"Well, I think that's all for now. Thank you, Mr. Carson."
Insp. Japp and Sgt. Willis were comparing notes at the village pub over their dinner. "The coroner said that a dose of arsenic that size would cause death within a matter of hours. That means the poison must have been administered sometime on Saturday evening, at dinner or later," Willis stated.
Japp agreed. "I'm inclined to think it was in the coffee or more likely the whiskey. It would have been difficult to put something in his food without being seen, what with everyone about."
"Then that would narrow the list of suspects to the servants. A family member or guest wouldn't have the opportunity to slip something into his drink without drawing attention to themselves."
"You're forgetting the convenient car crash."
"You think that's when it was done?"
Japp nodded sagely. "Anyone could have poisoned his drink before joining the others at the windows."
"That's good news for Lord Grantham. He was in bed by then." Willis mused, "Poor man. First, he learned he'd been swindled out of a fortune by some crooked builders, and then his home becomes the site of a murder."
"What!" The Inspector looked positively apoplectic.
"His Lordship filed a report at the station on Saturday. The so-called builders he'd hired for the housing development project in the village had run off with a great deal of money, leaving most of the work undone. We're sure it's the same gang that's been operating up and down the length of Britain."
"I don't suppose this was the same project that he was involved in with the Duke?" The Inspector couldn't believe that he was only hearing about it now.
"I guess it might be," Willis admitted sheepishly. "But it wasn't the Duke's fault. Why would Lord Grantham want to kill him?"
Japp was astounded by the local man's colossal ignorance but let it go for the time being. "Why would any of them want to kill him?"
The inquest was held the following week. The Duchess of Crowborough was there accompanied by a ridiculous-looking little man with an egg-shaped head and a huge mustache. The coroner was brought in first to reveal the results of the autopsy. It was his opinion that the Duke had died within hours of ingesting a lethal dose of arsenic oxide. The poison would cause severe stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and eventual organ failure leading to death. He was followed by Dr. Clarkson who shared the findings of his initial examination on the morning the body was discovered. He was able to put the time of death sometime between midnight and three in the morning.
Several occupants of the house were called in turn beginning with Lord Grantham himself. Robert testified to his business connections with the deceased and explained why he had been invited that weekend. The Earl was followed by the male staff members who served that night. Both Carson and Barrow acquitted themselves well, answering the questions put to them calmly and succinctly. Andy was next, appearing nervous and frightened, one foot tapping a rapid rhythm on the floor. Mr. Molesley looked like he might faint as he squeaked out his replies. Mrs. Patmore and Daisy were called and asked about the preparation of the dinner. Finally, the parade of witnesses ceased, and a verdict was returned—willful murder against some person or persons unknown.
