• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

‘The words you use, Albert,’ said Tuppence. ‘All right. I am receiving.’

‘I was just going to bring your morning coffee up.’

‘Well, you can bring that up and another cup. That’s all. There’ll be enough for two, won’t there?’

‘Oh yes, madam.’

‘Very well, then. Bring it up, put it on the table over there, and then bring Miss Mullins up.’

‘What about Hannibal?’ said Albert. ‘Shall I take him down and shut him up in the kitchen?’

‘He doesn’t like being shut up in the kitchen. No. Just push him into the bathroom and shut the door of it when you’ve done so.’

Hannibal, resenting the insult which was being put upon him, allowed with a bad grace Albert’s pushing him into the bathroom and adjustment to the door. He gave several loud fierce barks.

‘Shut up!’ Tuppence shouted to him. ‘Shut up!’

Hannibal consented to shut up as far as barking went. He lay down with his paws in front of him and his nose pressed to the crack under the door and uttered long, non-cooperative growls.

‘Oh, Mrs Beresford,’ cried Miss Mullins, ‘I’m afraid I am intruding, but I really thought you’d like to look at this book I have on gardening. Suggestions for planting at this time of year. Some very rare and interesting shrubs and they do quite well in this particular soil although some people say they won’t…Oh dear–oh no, oh, it’s very kind of you. Yes, I would like a cup of coffee. Please let me pour it out for you, it’s so difficult when you’re in bed. I wonder, perhaps–’ Miss Mullins looked at Albert, who obligingly drew up a chair.

‘That be all right for you, miss?’ he demanded.

‘Oh yes, very nice indeed. Dear me, is that another bell downstairs?’

‘Milk, I expect,’ said Albert. ‘Or might be the grocer. It’s his morning. Excuse me, won’t you.’

He went out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Hannibal gave another growl.

‘That’s my dog,’ said Tuppence, ‘he’s very annoyed at not being allowed to join the party but he makes so much noise.’

‘Do you take sugar, Mrs Beresford?’

‘One lump,’ said Tuppence.

Miss Mullins poured out a cup of coffee. Tuppence said, ‘Otherwise black.’

Miss Mullins put down the coffee beside Tuppence and went to pour out a cup for herself.

Suddenly she stumbled, clutched at an occasional table, and went down on her knees with an exclamation of dismay.

‘Have you hurt yourself?’ demanded Tuppence.

‘No, oh no, but I’ve broken your vase. I caught my foot in something–so clumsy–and your beautiful vase is smashed. Dear Mrs Beresford, what will you think of me? I assure you it was an accident.’

‘Of course it was,’ said Tuppence kindly. ‘Let me see. Well, it looks as if it could be worse. It’s broken in two, which means we shall be able to glue it together. I dare say the join will hardly show.’

‘I shall still feel awful about it,’ declared Miss Mullins. ‘I know you must perhaps be feeling ill and I oughtn’t to have come today, but I did so want to tell you–’

Hannibal began to bark again.

‘Oh, the poor wee doggie,’ said Miss Mullins, ‘shall I let him out?’

‘Better not,’ said Tuppence. ‘He’s not very reliable sometimes.’

‘Oh dear, is that another bell downstairs?’

‘No,’ said Tuppence. ‘Albert’ll answer it. He can always bring up a message if necessary.’

It was, however, Tommy who answered the telephone.

‘Hullo,’ he said. ‘Yes? Oh, I see. Who? I see–yes. Oh. An enemy, definite enemy. Yes, that’s all right. We’ve taken the countermeasures all right. Yes. Thank you very much.’

He dropped the receiver back, and looked at Mr Crispin.

‘Words of warning?’ said Mr Crispin.

‘Yes,’ said Tommy.

He continued to look at Mr Crispin.

‘Difficult to know, isn’t it? I mean, who’s your enemy and who’s your friend.’

‘Sometimes when you know it’s too late. Postern of Fate, Disaster’s Cavern,’ said Tommy.

Mr Crispin looked at him in some surprise.

‘Sorry,’ said Tommy. ‘For some reason or other we’ve got in the habit of reciting poetry in this house.’

‘Flecker, isn’t it? “Gates of Baghdad” or is it the “Gates of Damascus”?’

‘Come up, will you?’ said Tommy.