Partners in Crime_ A Tommy & Tuppence Adventure - Agatha Christie [27]
‘We should have thought of the window,’ he said. ‘Though, mind you, it would have been a difficult thing to prove. I’ll go down and–and–see to things.’
‘Poor devil,’ said Tommy slowly. ‘If he was fond of his wife –’
But the Inspector interrupted him with a snort.
‘Fond of her? That’s as may be. He was at his wits’ end where to turn for money. Lady Merivale had a large fortune of her own, and it all went to him. If she’d bolted with young Hale, he’d never have seen a penny of it.’
‘That was it, was it?’
‘Of course, from the very start, I sensed that Sir Arthur was a bad lot, and that Captain Hale was all right. We know pretty well what’s what at the Yard–but it’s awkward when you’re up against facts. I’ll be going down now–I should give your wife a glass of brandy if I were you, Mr Beresford–it’s been upsetting like for her.’
‘Greengrocers,’ said Tuppence in a low voice as the door closed behind the imperturbable Inspector, ‘butchers, fishermen, detectives. I was right, wasn’t I? He knew.’
Tommy, who had been busy at the sideboard, approached her with a large glass.
‘Drink this.’
‘What is it? Brandy?’
‘No, it’s a large cocktail–suitable for a triumphant McCarty. Yes, Marriot’s right all round–that was the way of it. A bold finesse for game and rubber.’
Tuppence nodded.
‘But he finessed the wrong way round.’
‘And so,’ said Tommy, ‘exit the King.’
Chapter 7
The Case of the Missing Lady
The buzzer on Mr Blunt’s desk–International Detective Agency, Manager, Theodore Blunt–uttered its warning call. Tommy and Tuppence both flew to their respective peepholes which commanded a view of the outer office. There it was Albert’s business to delay the prospective client with various artistic devices.
‘I will see, sir,’ he was saying. ‘But I’m afraid Mr Blunt is very busy just at present. He is engaged with Scotland Yard on the phone just now.’
‘I’ll wait,’ said the visitor. ‘I haven’t got a card with me, but my name is Gabriel Stavansson.’
The client was a magnificent specimen of manhood, standing over six foot high. His face was bronzed and weather beaten, and the extraordinary blue of his eyes made an almost startling contrast to the brown skin.
Tommy swiftly made up his mind. He put on his hat, picked up some gloves and opened the door. He paused on the threshold.
‘This gentleman is waiting to see you, Mr Blunt,’ said Albert.
A quick frown passed over Tommy’s face. He took out his watch.
‘I am due at the Duke’s at a quarter to eleven,’ he said. Then he looked keenly at the visitor. ‘I can give you a few minutes if you will come this way.’
The latter followed him obediently into the inner office, where Tuppence was sitting demurely with pad and pencil.
‘My confidential secretary, Miss Robinson,’ said Tommy. ‘Now, sir, perhaps you will state your business? Beyond the fact that it is urgent, that you came here in a taxi, and that you have lately been in the Arctic–or possibly the Antarctic, I know nothing.’
The visitor stared at him in amazement.
‘But this is marvellous,’ he cried. ‘I thought detectives only did such things in books! Your office boy did not even give you my name!’
Tommy sighed deprecatingly.
‘Tut, tut, all that was very easy,’ he said. ‘The rays of the midnight sun within the Arctic circle have a peculiar action upon the skin–the actinic rays have certain properties. I am writing a little monograph on the subject shortly. But all this is wide of the point. What is it that has brought you to me in such distress of mind?’
‘To begin with, Mr Blunt, my name is Gabriel Stavansson –’
‘Ah! of course,’ said Tommy. ‘The well-known explorer. You have recently returned from the region of the North Pole, I believe?’
‘I landed in England three days ago. A friend who was cruising in northern waters brought me back on his yacht. Otherwise I should not have got back for another fortnight. Now I must tell you, Mr Blunt, that before I started