Did I say funny? God, what a word to use."

With a little difficulty, Taverner and I disentangled ourselves from the emotional atmosphere of Roger Leonides's room and found ourselves outside the door, once more at the top of the stairs.

"Whew!" said Taverner. "What a contrast from the other brother." He added, rather inconsequently "Curious things, rooms. Tell you quite a lot about the people j who live in them." ^ I agreed and he went on.

"Curious the people who marry each other, too, isn't it?".,. ^ I was not quite sure if he was referring to Clemency and Roger, or to Philip and Magda. His words applied equally well to either. Yet it seemed to me that both the marriages might be classed as happy ones.

Roger's and Clemency's certainly was.

"I shouldn't say he was a poisoner, would | you?" asked Taverner. "Not off hand, I wouldn't. Of course, you never know. Now j she's more the type. Remorseless sort of woman. Might be a bit mad."

Again I agreed. "But I don't suppose,"

I said, "that she'd murder anyone just because she didn't approve of their aims and mode of life. Perhaps, if she really hated the old man - but are any murders committed just out of pure hate?"

"Precious few," said Taverner. "I've ^m^ aprnss one mvself. No, I think we're a good deal safer to stick to Mrs.

Brenda. But God knows if we'll ever get any evidence."