Murder Is Easy - Agatha Christie [40]
“The picture sounds most attractive.”
“I’m sure it does. Shall we return to the tennis court? You can play with Rose Humbleby. She’s so good that you’re practically certain to win.”
“Being old-fashioned I must allow you to have the last word.”
Again there was a pause. Then Luke took his hands slowly from her shoulders. They both stood uncertain as though something still unsaid lingered between them.
Then Bridget turned abruptly and led the way back. The next set was just ending. Rose protested against playing again.
“I’ve played two sets running.”
Bridget, however, insisted.
“I’m feeling tired. I don’t want to play. You and Mr. Fitzwilliam take on Miss Jones and Major Horton.”
But Rose continued to protest and in the end a men’s four was arranged. Afterwards came tea.
Lord Whitfield conversed with Dr. Thomas, describing at length and with great self-importance a visit he had recently paid to the Wellerman Kreitz Research Laboratories.
“I wanted to understand the trend of the latest scientific discoveries for myself,” he explained earnestly. “I’m responsible for what my papers print. I feel that very keenly. This is a scientific age. Science must be made easily assimilable by the masses.”
“A little science might possibly be a dangerous thing,” said Dr. Thomas with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
“Science in the home, that’s what we have to aim at,” said Lord Whitfield. “Science minded—”
“Test tube conscious,” said Bridget gravely.
“I was impressed,” said Lord Whitfield. “Wellerman took me round himself, of course. I begged him to leave me to an underling, but he insisted.”
“Naturally,” said Luke.
Lord Whitfield looked gratified.
“And he explained everything most clearly—the culture—the serum—the whole principle of the thing. He agreed to contribute the first article in the series himself.”
Mrs. Anstruther murmured:
“They use guinea-pigs, I believe—so cruel—though of course not so bad as dogs—or even cats.”
“Fellows who use dogs ought to be shot,” said Major Horton, hoarsely.
“I really believe, Horton,” said Mr. Abbot, “that you value canine life above human life.”
“Every time!” said the major. “Dogs can’t turn round on you like human beings can. Never get a nasty word from a dog.”
“Only a nasty tooth stuck into your leg,” said Mr. Abbot. “Eh, Horton?”
“Dogs are a good judge of character,” said Major Horton.
“One of your brutes nearly pinned me by the leg last week. What do you say to that, Horton?”
“Same as I said just now!”
Bridget interposed tactfully:
“What about some more tennis?”
A couple more sets were played. Then, as Rose Humbleby said good-bye, Luke appeared beside her.
“I’ll see you home,” he said. “And carry the tennis bat. You haven’t got a car, have you?”
“No, but it’s no distance.”
“I’d like a walk.”
He said no more, merely taking her racquet and shoes from her. They walked down the drive without speaking. Then Rose mentioned one or two trivial matters. Luke answered rather shortly but the girl did not seem to notice.
As they turned into the gate of her house, Luke’s face cleared.
“I’m feeling better now,” he said.
“Were you feeling badly before?”
“Nice of you to pretend you didn’t notice it. You’ve exorcised the brute’s sulky temper, though. Funny, I feel as though I’d come out of a dark cloud into the sun.”
“So you have. There was a cloud over the sun when we left the Manor and now it’s passed over.”
“So it’s literally as well as figuratively. Well, well—the world’s a good place after all.”
“Of course it is.”
“Miss Humbleby, may I be impertinent?”
“I’m sure you couldn’t be.”
“Oh, don’t be too sure of that. I wanted to say that I think Dr. Thomas is a very lucky man.”
Rose blushed and smiled.
She said: “So you’ve heard?”
“Was it supposed to be a secret? I’m so sorry.”
“Oh! Nothing is a secret in this place,” said Rose ruefully.
“So it is true—you and he are engaged?”
Rose nodded.
“Only—just now—we’re not announcing it officially. You see, daddy was against it and it seems—well—unkind