Strong Poison: Chapter 10 - The Barmaid's White Powder and Urquhart's Convenient Will

Mrs. Bulfinch (0:00)

Chapter 10

Chief Inspector Parker (0:02)

Here you are, Peter, said Chief Inspector Parker, and here is the lady you are anxious to meet. Mrs. Bulfinch, allow me to introduce Lord Peter Wimsey.

Mrs. Bulfinch (0:18)

Pleased, I am sure, said Mrs. Bulfinch.

SPEAKER_3 (0:21)

She giggled and dabbed her large blonde face with powder.

Chief Inspector Parker (0:24)

Mrs. Bulfinch, before her union with Mr. Bulfinch was the life and soul of the Saloon Bar at the Nine Rings in Gray's Inn Road, said Mr. Parker, and well known to all for her charm and wit.

SPEAKER_3 (0:44)

Go on, said Mrs. Bulfinch.

Mrs. Bulfinch (0:45)

You're a one, aren't you? Don't you pay no attention to him, your Lordship. You know what these police fellows are.

SPEAKER_3 (0:53)

Sad dogs, said Wimsey, shaking his head.

Lord Peter Wimsey (0:55)

But I don't need his testimonials.

I can trust my own eyes and ears, Mrs. Bulfinch. And I can only say that if I had had the happiness to make your acquaintance before it was too late, it would have been my lifetime's ambition to wipe Mr. Bulfinch's eye.

Mrs. Bulfinch (1:11)

You're every bit as bad as he is, said Mrs. Bulfinch, highly gratified. And what Bulfinch would say to you, I don't know. Quite upset he was when the officer came round to ask me to pop along to the yard. I don't like it, Gracie, he says. We've always been respectable in this house, and no trouble with disorderlies, nor drinks after hours. And once you get among them, fellows, you don't know the things you may be asked.

Don't be so soft, I tells him. The boys all know me, and they haven't got nothing against me. And if it's just to tell them about the gentleman that left the packet behind him at the rings, I haven't no objection to tell them, having nothing to reproach myself with.

What did they think? I said. If I refused to go, ten to one they'd think there was something funny about it. Well, he says, I'm coming with you. Oh, are you? I says. And how about the new barman you was going to engage this morning? For, I said, serve in the jug and bottle I will not, never having been accustomed to it, so you can do as you like.

So I came away and left him to it. Mind you, I like him for it. I ain't saying nothing against Bulfinch, but police or no police, I reckon I know how to take care of myself.

SPEAKER_3 (2:32)

Quite so, said Parker patiently.

Chief Inspector Parker (2:35)

Mr. Bulfinch need feel no alarm. All we want you to do is to tell us, to the best of your recollection, about that young man you spoke of, and help us to find the white paper packet.

You may be able to save an innocent person from being convicted, and I am sure your husband could not object to that.

SPEAKER_3 (3:01)

Poor thing, said Mrs. Bulfinch.

Mrs. Bulfinch (3:03)

I'm sure when I read the account of the trial I said to Bulfinch.

Chief Inspector Parker (3:07)

Just a moment. If you wouldn't mind beginning at the beginning, Mrs. Bulfinch, Lord Peter would understand better what you have to tell us.

Mrs. Bulfinch (3:21)

Why, of course. Well, my lord, before I was married, I was barmaid at the Nine Rings, as the Chief Inspector says. Miss Montague, I was then. It's a better name than Bulfinch, and I was almost sorry to say goodbye to it. But there, a girl has to make a lot of sacrifices when she marries and one more or less is nothing to signify.

I never worked there, but in the saloon bar, for I wouldn't undertake the four-ail business, it not being a refined neighborhood, though there's a lot of very nice legal gentlemen drops in of an evening on the saloon side. Well, as I was saying, I was working there up to my marriage, which was last August Bank holiday, and I remember one evening a gentleman coming in.

Chief Inspector Parker (4:10)

Could you remember the date, do you think?

Mrs. Bulfinch (4:14)

Not within a day or so, I couldn't, for I wouldn't wish to swear to a fib, but it wasn't far off the longest day, for I remember making that same remark to the gentleman for something to say, you know.

Chief Inspector Parker (4:27)

That's near enough, said Parker, round about June 20th or 21st or something like that.

Mrs. Bulfinch (4:37)

That's right, as near as I can speak to it, and as to the time of night, that I can tell you, knowing how keen you techs always are on the hands of the clock.