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Continued...
Spencer arrives at the White Feather. His assistant Alan Fleming tells him that among the guests are local MP, Sir Ernest Bannerman, and the Honourable John Mowbray. Spencer asks about Rosemary Harwood. Fleming says she has arrived and queries the interest, but Spencer doesn't reply. When Margaret greets Spencer with delight her son Stanley looks on with displeasure.Over lunch Margaret asks Spencer about London. He replies that it is full of refugees and has become too cosmopolitan. She says he will soon put that right and he replies that he will, with her help.
While fishing on Sunday afternoon with his colleague Hugh Reid, Foyle tells him that he has been to the White Feather and came away "feeling distinctly unclean". He says he wants to help Edith Johnstone. "I mean, if they hang her it's a complete waste of a life."David Lane kicks up a rumpus in the police station when his demands to see Edith are refused. He leaves, saying threateningly, "I'll show you!"
In the White Feather Woolton is told by Fleming that the public room is closed for an evening lecture. Woolton inquires as to the subject and is told "The war effort".
In her study Margaret signs documents under the supervision of Spencer who tells her that she is a true patriot.
Stanley Ellis tells his father that he has found something in Woolton's room. From an upstairs window Fleming observes a young man trying to see through the shutters of the windows on the ground floor.
Rosemary Harwood takes a piece of paper from a metal box on her dressing table.
Woolton goes into his room.
While Stanley Ellis reads a book at the reception desk the invited guests chatter over drinks in the function room close by, making disparaging remarks and insulting jokes about the Jewish people.A little later as Spencer addresses the gathering, the lights flicker and shortly afterwards go out. A door opens and three pistol shots are heard. When the lights come on again Ellis is on his feet and the first thing he sees is his wife lying dead on the sofa next to where he had been sitting.
* * *
Foyle returns to the White Feather. Spencer advises him to get on with the investigation as he could be out of a job in a week, a German invasion being a possibility. Foyle asks if he is right in thinking that would be something of which Spencer would approve. Spencer says he doesn't care what the other man thinks of him or his politics. He points out where people were situated in the room. Foyle asks about Ellis and Spencer says that he didn't think he was entirely in sympathy with his views. "He was fiddling with his pipe all the time I was talking."
Spencer names the distinguished guests. Foyle, unimpressed, remarks dryly, "An elevated association." Spencer points out that the Duke of Westminster is one of their supporters and it could be said that their influence extends as far as the palace.Foyle is told it was pitch black when the lights went out but Fleming heard the door open just before the shots were fired.
Spencer says that he would like to be gone from the hotel by lunch, but Foyle replies that he needs everybody to stay. Spencer has taken against Foyle and asks him if he is by any chance Jewish. Foyle looks back at him blankly for a long moment without speaking, then walks out of the room.
Outside the hotel Sam is rudely accosted by several guests who want to leave the premises. Bannerman demands that Sam drive him home and Miss Harwood to the station. When she says that she will have to ask her boss, the MP protests. "Are you defying me?"
Sam replies, "Yes, it looks as if I am."
***
Foyle questions Ellis, asking if he shared his wife's political opinions. Stanley Ellis interjects that neither of them did, they just did what they were told. Foyle learns that when the lights went out, Arthur got up to leave the room in order to mend the fuse, but it was too dark to find the door. Stanley says he knows it was Rosemary Harwood who left the room because he was just outside and recognised her strong perfume.
Foyle and Stanley go to the lobby. Foyle remarks that he does not appear to be very moved by his mother's death, to which Stanley replies that he believes in honesty.He tells how, when the lights went out, he went to replace the fuse. Fuses often blow because the electrics can't take the load. He heard gunshots and assumed that someone had fired at Spencer. He takes Foyle to Woolton's room and explains how he had found a gun in there yesterday. Woolton appears to have left the hotel during the night, but there is record of his home address. Foyle asks who turns down the beds and Stanley replies that he usually does, but his father did it last night. Foyle queries why Stanley has not been called up and the young man explains that his eyesight is the cause.
As Foyle is about to get into the Wolesley, Fleming seeks a word with him. After apologising for Spencer's attitude he tells him about the prowler he saw, describing him as about twenty, well built, fair hair and looking like a labourer. Fleming says there is something else he ought to know, but Spencer appears at the door of the hotel and calls to him before he can continue and Fleming goes back inside without saying more.
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