Annie Haynes Premium Collection – 8 Murder Mysteries in One Volume. Annie Haynes
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Название: Annie Haynes Premium Collection – 8 Murder Mysteries in One Volume
Автор: Annie Haynes
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Языкознание
isbn: 9788075832535
isbn:
“An inmate for the time being, certainly,” the doctor acquiesced. “But do not call it my theory, Sir Arthur. I shall be only too delighted if a different deduction can be drawn from the facts.”
“I will have a different deduction drawn if I have anything to do with it,” Arthur said quickly. “I shall telegraph to town first thing in the morning for the best detective to be had. Garth, I say,” raising his voice, “do stop looking at that tree and come here and see what you think of this idea of Dr. Grieve’s. He says he believes that this—this atrocious thing was done in the Manor—in the house itself. What do you say to that?”
“Now, now, my dear sir,” the doctor remonstrated as he struggled into his overcoat, “please do not put words into my mouth. I said that I saw no indications of her having been outside the Manor that night in her dress. Neither did I.”
“Which means exactly what I said,” retorted Sir Arthur hotly. “What do you think, Garth?”
Davenant did not answer for a moment; his face looked haggard and strained.
“I—I hardly know what to think,” he said at last, pausing between each word, while his eyes wandered restlessly back to the Lovers’ Oak. “In fact, I fancy I have been far too much shocked by the whole affair to have formed any very definite ideas as yet. Are you waiting longer, doctor? There seems to be nothing to stay for.” The policemen were dispersing the loiterers, who in awestricken groups were wending their way homewards.
“Nothing!” Dr. Grieve turned with the two young men.
Garth held his cigar-case towards him.
“Please help yourself, doctor.”
“No thanks. Not to-night!” Dr. Grieve’s manner was brusque.
Davenant looked at him in some surprise.
“Why, doctor, I have heard you say that a smoke was the best thing for the nerves.”
“Yes,” the old man said gruffly as they reached the waiting conveyances, and he prepared to get into his brougham, “but I don’t feel like it now, Mr. Davenant. I dare say I shall have a whiff of pipe before I turn in.”
“Obstinate old man!” Arthur ejaculated as he and Garth drove off. “Now he will put into people’s heads that this horrible deed was done in the Manor, which, as I tell him, is an impossibility. If that notion is to get about there is no knowing what harm may be done to Hilda, just as she is recovering too. She has such a sensitive nature, poor girl; and my mother—But how could it have been done, Garth? Do you think she stepped out of doors and some wandering tramp—”
“I don’t imagine so,” Garth said shortly. “But—Good heavens!”
A sudden turn in the road had brought them within sight of Mrs. Marston’s cottage, and by the light of the moon, which was now shining brightly, they could see a group of villagers surrounding the old woman at the garden-gate.
As Garth pulled up the horse there was a chorus of exclamation, but one weak, quavering voice made itself heard above the rest.
“Mr. Garth! Mr. Garth, you will have heard—”
With a muttered word or two of apology, Garth threw the reins to Arthur and jumped out.
“I have heard, nurse”—going back to the name of his childish days—“and I cannot tell you how grieved I am for you.”
“They have killed her—my Mary!” the poor woman wailed. “I knew that—my dreams had told me. She has been so near me all this time; and now they have carried her past the cottage—her own little home—and they’ve took her to the mortuary, and they say I’m not to see her—not me, her mother. I will, for all of them!” and she made a few steps forward.
Garth put his arm round her; then he turned to Arthur.
“Drive on, Hargreave, please, and send the cart back for me; I must stay a while here.”
As Arthur touched the whip and the horse started he saw that, clinging to his arm as he bent his tall head to hers, the old woman was letting Garth lead her home.
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