Postern of Fate (Tommy and Tuppence Series) - Agatha Christie [50]
‘Do you mean that the Parkinsons–I suppose we’re back at the Parkinsons again before we know where we are–were in it? That the Parkinsons were part of the enemy?’
‘It seems very unlikely,’ said Tommy.
‘Well, then, I can’t see what it all means.’
‘I think the house might have something to do with it,’ said Tommy.
‘The house? Well, other people came and lived here afterwards, didn’t they?’
‘Yes, they did. But I don’t suppose they were people quite like–well, quite like you, Tuppence.’
‘What do you mean by quite like me?’
‘Well, wanting old books and looking through them and finding out things. Being a regular mongoose, in fact. They just came and lived here and I expect the upstairs rooms and the books were probably servants’ rooms and nobody went into them. There may be something that was hidden in this house. Hidden perhaps by Mary Jordan. Hidden in a place ready to deliver to someone who would come for them, or deliver them by going herself to London or somewhere on some excuse. Visit to a dentist. Seeing an old friend. Quite easy to do. She had something she had acquired, or got to know, hidden in this house. You’re not saying it’s still hidden in this house?’
‘No,’ said Tommy, ‘I shouldn’t have thought so. But one doesn’t know. Somebody is afraid we may find it or have found it and they want to get us out of the house, or they want to get hold of whatever it is they think we’ve found but that they’ve never found, though perhaps they’ve looked for it in past years and then thought it had been hidden somewhere else outside.’
‘Oh, Tommy,’ said Tuppence, ‘that makes it all much more exciting, really, doesn’t it?’
‘It’s only what we think,’ said Tommy.
‘Now don’t be such a wet blanket,’ said Tuppence. ‘I’m going to look outside as well as inside–’
‘What are you going to do, dig up the kitchen garden?’
‘No,’ said Tuppence. ‘Cupboards, the cellar, things like that. Who knows? Oh, Tommy!’
‘Oh, Tuppence!’ said Tommy. ‘Just when we were looking forward to a delightful, peaceful old age.’
‘No peace for the pensioners,’ said Tuppence gaily. ‘That’s an idea too.’
‘What?’
‘I must go and talk to some old age pensioners at their club. I hadn’t thought of them up to now.’
‘For goodness’ sake, look after yourself,’ said Tommy. ‘I think I’d better stay at home and keep an eye on you. But I’ve got to do some more research in London tomorrow.’
‘I’m going to do some research here,’ said Tuppence.
Chapter 2
Research by Tuppence
‘I hope,’ said Tuppence, ‘that I’m not interrupting you, coming along like this? I thought I’d better ring up first in case you were out, you know, or busy. But, I mean, it’s nothing particular so I could go away again at once if you liked. I mean, my feelings wouldn’t be hurt or anything like that.’
‘Oh, I’m delighted to see you, Mrs Beresford,’ said Mrs Griffin.
She moved herself three inches along her chair so as to settle her back more comfortably and looked with what seemed to be distinct pleasure into Tuppence’s somewhat anxious face.
‘It’s a great pleasure, you know, when somebody new comes and lives in this place. We’re so used to all our neighbours that a new face, or if I may say so a couple of new faces, is a treat. An absolute treat! I hope indeed that you’ll both come to dinner one day. I don’t know what time your husband gets back. He goes to London, does he not, most days?’
‘Yes,’ said Tuppence. ‘That’s very nice of you. I hope you’ll come and see our house when it’s more or less finished. I’m always thinking it’s going to be finished but it never is.’
‘Houses are rather like that,’ said Mrs Griffin.
Mrs Griffin, as Tuppence knew very well from her various sources of information which consisted of daily women, old Isaac, Gwenda in the post office and sundry others, was ninety-four. The upright position which she enjoyed arranging because it took the rheumatic pains out of her back, together with her erect carriage, gave her the air of someone much younger. In spite of the wrinkled face, the head of uprising white hair surmounted by a lace scarf tied round