As I moved her along in the conversation, she was able to tell me a story of a play in Paris where she had opened just after Angeline closed a play of her own.
“The dressing room absolutely reeked of cigarette smoke. It’s the sort that you smoke from time to time,” she added. “However, it was so strong that it wilted the flowers she had received.
“The play wasSalome, quite disgusting. The woman played an exotic dancer and had no reservation about removing all her clothes! Oh, and she has this peculiar little man who goes everywhere with her. It does make one wonder about her taste in companions. He was quite small...”
A woman who preferred those Turkish cigarettes, had performed in the playSalomewhich had been banned in London, would take her clothes off when she portrayed an exotic dancer, and had a rather small companion who went everywhere with her.
I now knew somewhat more about Angeline Cotillard than when I arrived. However, it was too soon to know what any of it might have had to do with Sir Collingwood’s murder.
I met Brodie back at the office, and went over everything Templeton had shared with me.
“It could be useful,” he commented. “If she was there as a guest of His Highness, is there a connection to Sir Collingwood? Or was his death merely a random act.”
“Random?”
“The sort of guests who were there are rich and powerful men. His Highness is fond of horse racing and we were told that he usually had a horse participating in the local races.
“I contacted Mr. Conner. He knows people in and about racing here in London where there are usually enormous bets made. A great deal of money at stake has a way of drawing all sorts. With the races that were to begin, it is possible that Sir Collingwood might have been meeting with someone regarding a bet.”
“Or,” I suggested, “in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
He put on his long coat as I finished making my notes on the board from my meeting with Templeton.
“Perhaps.”
Waverly House at St. James’s had been in Sir Collingwood’s family for over two hundred years.
It was a two-story brick manor with a slate roof that sat at the edge of St. James’s Park, and very near Admiralty House and the official Admiralty offices where he also had an office for his work as part of the Queen’s Privy Council.
We were met at the entrance by Sir Collingwood’s head butler. He had been notified to expect our arrival and, by his demeanor, it appeared that he had been informed about Sir Collingwood’s death.
“I have been instructed to answer whatever questions that I may be able, and to make the other servants available to you as well,” he informed us in that formal manner of one who had also served in the Queen’s Navy, and then retired to his current position.
We were then introduced to his housekeeper, Mrs. Burton, and his personal valet, Mr. Long.
After meeting them, Brodie asked if it would be possible to meet with each one individually in the library adjacent to the parlor where I settled in to take notes.
His questions for Mr. Jamison, the head butler, were initially met with some hesitation which I attributed to that natural loyalty of a servant, along with that military demeanor.
“Sir, I respect yer position and any instructions ye may have been given,” Brodie told him. “However, we have been sent by Sir Avery Stanton of the Special Services at the request of His Highness the Prince of Wales.
“This letter will advise ye of the importance of the matter as well as authorization for ye to cooperate.” He handed him the letter. “Ye may discuss this with Sir Avery, or perhaps ye wish me to inform His Highness that ye refuse to cooperate in the matter?”
“I understand. I will assist in any way that I can.”
If anyone was in a position to know Sir Collingwood’s schedule, appointments, as well as any unusual situation—aside from any situations that pertained to his work as Lord High Admiral of the Navy—it would have been this man, who we learned had been in service with Sir Collingwood for very near twenty years.
Apparently, there was nothing out of the ordinary prior to Sir Collingwood’s trip to Sandringham to join the Prince of Wales and his other guests.
His schedule was full of appointments that Mr. Jamison oversaw as far as his travel back and forth to the Admiralty offices and providing any notes that were send round from staff there.
“He had been most determined to clear his schedule for those few days. It did seem to be a much-needed respite and he was most anxious to be off to Sandringham.”
Sir Collingwood had traveled there by rail the day prior to his Royal Highness’s arrival, after changing his plans due to other arrangements that needed to be made.
I knew from my own travels that changes did occur from time to time, and certainly for a man of Sir Collingwood’s position that would not have been unusual.
Yet, a day ahead? And other arrangements?
