>>6010833(picture unrelated, for flavor only)
Lord Henry Ragland (56SW)
Lord Ragland's man, Bunting, admits us to the residence and shows us into the study to wait. We are almost as impressed by Lord Ragland's estiablishment as we are with Lord Ragland himself when he arrives. At 30, he is the picture of the English gentleman, impeccably groomed, with a grace and style at once attractive and forbidding. The introductions completed, he separates himself from us by walking to the other side of the desk. Seating himself, he asks us to begin.
Before we can, however, he notices an envelope on the desk and immediately calls for Bunting.
"[Drummond's] has slipped up again. See that this is posted immediately... Excuse me, gentlemen. Debit where a credit should be or some such. Please begin."
"On the night of [Mr. Allen]'s murder, he had an appointment, with [Captain Egan]--"
"Yes, the purchasing officer for naval ordnance at the [Admiralty]. We were working on a secret project for the Admiralty, and Courtney was concerned about one of the engineers, [Richard Camp], being a security risk. We discussed it that morning. I gave no credence to the idea."
Lord Ragland pauses to reach into a small silver box. From it, he draws forth a cigarette which has a 'B & H' printed on it in gold leaf. He inserts it into an ebony cigarette holder, lights it, and leans back. Without prompting, he continues.
"No, no. Camp is a fine fellow. But as a concession to Egan, I removed him from the project and assigned him elsewhere... Tragic, Courtney's death. To think that I had intended to stop by the [offices] that evening but was forced to work late at the [plant]. If I had, perhaps the thief would have thought twice before tackling two of us."
"Were you disappointed about not being named president? You were, after all, senior vice-president."
"Not a bit of it. I am quite happy in my work in the technical areas. Administrative matters do not interest me. Besides, one of [Marlowe]'s conditions of employment was that he succeeds Courtney when Courtney retired. Of course, that would not have been for many years."
"Thank you, Lord Ragland."
LEADS FOLLOWED: 3
Jasper Meeks (38EC), H.R. Murray (22SW), Lord Ragland (56SW)
