A pocketful of rye - Agatha Christie

"Don't worry," said Inspector Neele comfortingly. "What's past is past."
"Oh yes, it was a long time ago. Mr Lance was just young and high spirited and didn't really realise
what he was doing."
Inspector Neele had heard that view before and didn't agree with it. But he passed on to fresh
questions.
"Tell me a little more about the staff here."
Miss Griffith, hurrying to get away from her indiscretion, poured out information about the various
personalities in the firm. Inspector Neele thanked her and then said he would like to see Miss
Grosvenor again.
Detective-Constable Waite sharpened his pencil. He remarked wistfully that this was a Ritzy joint.
His glance wandered appreciatively over the huge chairs, the big desk and the indirect lighting.
"All these people have got Ritzy names, too," he said. "Grosvenor - that's something to do with a
Duke. And Fortescue - that's a classy name, too."
Inspector Neele smiled.
"His father's name wasn't Fortescue. Fontescu - and he came from somewhere in Central Europe. I
suppose this man thought Fortescue sounded better."
Detective-Constable Waite looked at his superior officer with awe.
"So you know all about him?"
"I just looked up a few things before coming along on the call."
"Not got a record, had he?"
"Oh no. Mr Fortescue was much too clever for that. He's had certain connections with the Black
Market and put through one or two deals that are questionable to say the least of it, but they've always
been just within the law."
"I see," said Waite. "Not a nice man."
"A twister," said Neele. "But we've got nothing on him. The Inland Revenue have been after him for a
long time but he's been too clever for them. Quite a financial genius, the late Mr Fortescue."
"The sort of man," said Constable Waite, "who might have enemies?"
He spoke hopefully.
"Oh yes - certainly enemies. But he was poisoned at home remember. Or so it would seem. You know,
Waite, I see a kind of pattern emerging. An old-fashioned familiar kind of pattern. The good boy,
Percival. The bad boy. Lance - attractive to women. The wife who's younger than her husband and
who's vague about which course she's going to play golf on. It's all very very familiar. But there's one
thing that sticks out in a most incongruous way."