Postern of Fate (Tommy and Tuppence Series) - Agatha Christie [75]
‘When old ladies are hit on the head and done in,’ said Tuppence. ‘Yes, quite so. That’s the unfortunate result of having grey hair and walking with a slight arthritic limp. Of course I must be fair game for anyone. I shall look after myself. Do you think I ought to carry a small pistol about with me?’
‘No,’ said Tommy, ‘certainly not.’
‘Why? Do you think I’d make some mistake with it?’
‘Well, I think you might trip over the root of a tree. You know you’re always falling down. And then you might shoot yourself instead of just using the pistol for protection.’
‘Oh, you don’t really think I’d do anything stupid like that, do you?’ said Tuppence.
‘Yes, I do,’ said Tommy. ‘I’m sure you’re quite capable of it.’
‘I could carry a flick knife,’ said Tuppence.
‘I shouldn’t carry anything at all,’ said Tommy. ‘I should just go about looking innocent and talking about gardening. Say, perhaps, we’re not sure we like the house and we have plans for going to live elsewhere. That’s what I suggest.’
‘Who’ve I got to say that to?’
‘Oh, almost anyone,’ said Tommy. ‘It’ll get round.’
‘Things always get round,’ said Tuppence. ‘Quite a place here for things getting round. Are you going to say the same things, Tommy?’
‘Well, roughly. Say, perhaps, that we don’t like the house as much as we thought we did.’
‘But you want to go on, too, don’t you?’ said Tuppence.
‘Yes,’ said Tommy. ‘I’m embroiled all right.’
‘Have you thought how to set about it?’
‘Go on doing what I’m doing at present. What about you, Tuppence? Have you got any plans?’
‘Not quite yet,’ said Tuppence. ‘I’ve got a few ideas. I can get a bit more out of–what did I say his name was?’
‘First Henry–then Clarence.’
Chapter 9
Junior Brigade
Having seen Tommy depart for London, Tuppence was wandering vaguely round the house trying to single out some particular activity which might yield successful results. However, her brain did not seem to be full of bright ideas this morning.
With the general feeling of one returning to the beginning, she climbed up to the book-room and walked round it vaguely, looking at the titles of various volumes. Children’s books, lots of children’s books, but really one couldn’t go any farther than that, could one? She had gone as far as anyone could already. By now she was almost certain that she had looked at every single book in this particular room; Alexander Parkinson had not revealed any more of his secrets.
She was standing there running her fingers through her hair, frowning and kicking at a bottom shelf of theological works whose bindings were nearly all of them scaling away from the books, when Albert came up.
‘Someone as wants to see you downstairs, madam.’
‘What do you mean by someone?’ said Tuppence. ‘Anyone I know?’
‘I dunno. Shouldn’t think so. Boys they are, mainly. Boys and a girl or two all in a hump. Spect they want a subscription for something or other.’
‘Oh. They didn’t give any names or say anything?’
‘Oh, one of them did. Said he was Clarence and you’d know all about him.’
‘Oh,’ said Tuppence. ‘Clarence.’ She considered for a moment.
Was this the fruit from yesterday? Anyway, it could do no harm to follow it up.
‘Is the other boy here too? The one I was talking to yesterday in the garden?’
‘Don’t know. They all look much alike. Dirty, you know, and all the rest of it.’
‘Oh well,’ said Tuppence, ‘I’ll come down.’
When she had reached the ground floor she turned enquiringly to her guide.
Albert said, ‘Oh, I didn’t let them come into the house. Wouldn’t be safe, I think. Never know what you might lose, these days. They’re out in the garden. They said to tell you they was by the gold-mine.’
‘They was by the what?’ asked Tuppence.
‘The gold-mine.’
‘Oh,’ said Tuppence.
‘What way would that be?’
Tuppence pointed.
‘Past the rose garden, and then right by the dahlia walk.