Postern of Fate (Tommy and Tuppence Series) - Agatha Christie [91]
Hannibal continued to bark.
‘I think, Tommy,’ said Tuppence, ‘you’d really better take Hannibal back to the house. He seems to be in rather a protective mood this morning.’
‘All right,’ said Tommy.
‘Won’t you come back to the house,’ said Tuppence to Miss Mullins, ‘and have something to drink? It’s rather a hot morning and I think it would be a good thing, don’t you? And we can discuss plans together perhaps.’
Hannibal was shut into the kitchen and Miss Mullins accepted a glass of sherry. A few suggestions were made, then Miss Mullins looked at her watch and said she must hurry back.
‘I have an appointment,’ she explained. ‘I mustn’t be late.’ She bade them a somewhat hurried farewell and departed.
‘She seems all right,’ said Tuppence.
‘I know,’ said Tommy–‘But one can’t ever be sure–’
‘One could ask questions?’ said Tuppence doubtfully.
‘You must be tired going all round the garden. We must leave our expedition this afternoon for another day–you have been ordered to rest.’
Chapter 14
Garden Campaign
‘You understand, Albert,’ said Tommy.
He and Albert were together in the pantry where Albert was washing up the tea tray he had just brought down from Tuppence’s bedroom.
‘Yes, sir,’ said Albert. ‘I understand.’
‘You know, I think you will get a bit of a warning–from Hannibal.’
‘He’s a good dog in some ways,’ said Albert. ‘Doesn’t take to everyone, of course.’
‘No,’ said Tommy, ‘that’s not his job in life. Not one of those dogs who welcome in the burglars and wag their tails at the wrong person. Hannibal knows a few things. But I have made it quite clear to you, haven’t I?’
‘Yes. I don’t know what I am to do if the missus–well, am I to do what the missus says or tell her what you said or–’
‘I think you’ll have to use a certain amount of diplomacy,’ said Tommy. ‘I’m making her stay in bed today. I’m leaving her in your charge more or less.’
Albert had just opened the front door to a youngish man in a tweed suit.
Albert looked up doubtfully at Tommy. The visitor stepped inside and advanced one step, a friendly smile on his face.
‘Mr Beresford? I’ve heard you want a bit of help in your garden–just moved in here lately, haven’t you? I noticed coming up the drive that it was getting rather overgrown. I did some work locally a couple of years ago–for a Mr Solomon–you may have heard of him.’
‘Mr Solomon, yes, someone did mention him.’
‘My name’s Crispin, Angus Crispin. Perhaps we might take a look at what wants doing.’
II
‘About time someone did something about the garden,’ said Mr Crispin, as Tommy led him on a tour of the flower-beds and the vegetable garden.
‘That’s where they used to grow the spinach along this kitchen garden path here. Behind it were some frames. They used to grow melons too.’
‘You seem to be very well aware of all this.’
‘Well, one heard a lot you know of what had been everywhere in the old days. Old ladies tell you about the flower-beds and Alexander Parkinson told a lot of his pals about the foxglove leaves.’
‘He must have been a rather remarkable boy.’
‘Well, he had ideas and he was very keen on crime. He made a kind of code message out in one of Stevenson’s books: The Black Arrow.’
‘Rather a good one, that, isn’t it? I read it myself about five years ago. Before that I’d never got further than Kidnapped. When I was working for–’ He hesitated.
‘Mr Solomon?’ suggested Tommy.
‘Yes, yes, that’s the name. I heard things. Heard things from old Isaac. I gather, unless I’ve heard the wrong rumours, I gather that old Isaac must have been, oh, getting on for a hundred and did some work for you here.’
‘Yes,’ said Tommy. ‘For his age he was rather wonderful, really. He knew a lot of things he used to tell us, too. Things he couldn’t have remembered himself.’
‘No, but he liked the gossip of the old days. He’s got relations here still, you know, who have listened to his tales and checked up on his stories.