Death in a White Tie. Ngaio Marsh

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      ‘He said he’d bring you home,’ he spluttered.

      ‘He didn’t do so.’

      ‘When did you come home?’

      ‘I didn’t notice. Late.’

      ‘Alone?’

      Her face was white but she looked steadily at him. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Don’t be a fool.’

      III

      STRANGE FATALITY

      Lord Robert Gospell dies

      after Ball

       Full Story

      Donald Potter read the four headlines over and over again. From the centre of the page his uncle’s face twinkled at him. Donald’s cigarette-butt burnt his lips. He spat it into his empty cup, and lit another. He was shivering as if he had a rigor. He read the four lines again. In the next room somebody yawned horribly.

      Donald’s head jerked back.

      ‘Wits!’ he said. ‘Wits! Come here!’

      ‘What’s wrong?’

      ‘Come here!’

      Captain Withers, clad in an orange silk dressing-gown, appeared in the doorway. ‘What the hell’s the matter with you?’ he enquired. ‘Look here.’

      Captain Withers, whistling between his teeth, strolled up and looked over Donald’s shoulder. His whistling stopped. He reached out his hand, took the newspaper, and began to read. Donald watched him.

      ‘Dead!’ said Donald. ‘Uncle Bunch! Dead!’

      Withers glanced at him and returned to the paper. Presently he began again to whistle through his teeth.

      IV

      DEATH OF LORD ROBERT GOSPELL

      Tragic end to a distinguished career

       Suspicious Circumstances

      Lady Mildred Potter beat her plump hands on the proofs of the Evening Chronicle obituary notice and turned upon Alleyn a face streaming with tears.

      ‘But who could have wanted to hurt Bunchy, Roderick? Everyone adored him. He hadn’t an enemy in the world. Look what the Chronicle says—and I must say I think it charming of them to let me see the things they propose to say about him—but look what it says. “Beloved by all his friends!” And so he was. So he was. By all his friends.’

      ‘He must have had one enemy, Mildred,’ said Alleyn.

      ‘I can’t believe it. I’ll never believe it. It must be an escaped lunatic.’ She pressed her handkerchief to her eyes and sobbed violently. ‘I shall never be able to face all this dreadful publicity. The police! I don’t mean you, Roderick, naturally. But everything—the papers, everyone poking and prying. Bunchy would have detested it. I can’t face it. I can’t.’

      ‘Where’s Donald?’

      ‘He rang up. He’s coming.’

      ‘From where?’

      ‘From this friend’s flat, wherever it is.’

      ‘He’s away from home?’

      ‘Didn’t Bunchy tell you? Ever since that awful afternoon when he was so cross with Donald. Bunchy didn’t understand.’

      ‘Why was Bunchy cross with him?’

      ‘He had run into debt rather. And now, poor boy, he is no doubt feeling too dreadfully remorseful.’

      Alleyn did not answer immediately. He walked over to the window and looked out.

      ‘It will be easier for you,’ he said at last, ‘when Donald gets here. I suppose the rest of the family will come too?’

      ‘Yes. All our old cousins and aunts. They have already rung up. Broomfield—Bunchy’s eldest nephew, you know—I mean my eldest brothers son is away on the Continent. He’s the head of the family, of course. I suppose I shall have to make all the arrangements and—and I’m so dreadfully shaken.’

      ‘I’ll do as much as I can. There are some things that I must do. I’m afraid, Mildred, I shall have to ask you to let me look at Bunchy’s things. His papers and so on.’

      ‘I’m sure,’ said Lady Mildred, ‘he would have preferred you to anyone else, Roderick.’

      ‘You make it very easy for me. Shall I get it done now?’

      Lady Mildred looked helplessly about her.

      ‘Yes. Yes, please. You’ll want his keys, won’t you?’

      ‘I’ve got the keys, Mildred,’ said Alleyn gently.

      ‘But—where—?’ She gave a little cry. ‘Oh, poor darling. He always took them with him everywhere.’ She broke down completely. Alleyn waited for a moment and then he said:

      ‘I shan’t attempt the impertinence of condoling phrases. There is small comfort in scavenging in this mess for crumbs of consolation. But I tell you this, Mildred, if it takes me the rest of my life, and if it costs me my job, by God! if I have to do the killing myself, I’ll get this murderer and see him suffer for it.’ He paused and made a grimace. ‘Good Lord, what a speech! Bunchy would have laughed at it. It’s a curious thing that when one speaks from the heart it is invariably in the worst of taste.’

      He looked at her grey hair arranged neatly and unfashionably and enclosed in a net. She peered at him over the top of her drenched handkerchief and he saw that she had not listened to him.

      ‘I’ll get on with it,’ said Alleyn, and made his way alone to Lord Robert’s study.

      V

      LORD ROBERT GOSPELL

      DIES IN TAXI

      Last night’s shocking Fatality

       Who was the Second Passenger?

      Sir Daniel Davidson arrived at his consulting-rooms at half-past ten. At his front door he caught sight of the news placard and, for the first time in his life, bought a sporting edition. He now folded the paper carefully and laid it on top of his desk. He lit a cigarette, and glanced at his servant.

      ‘I shan’t see any patients,’ he said. ‘If anybody rings up—I’m out. Thank you.’

      ‘Thank you, sir,’ said the servant and removed himself.

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