The Seven Dials Mystery - Agatha Christie [61]
The Countess was looking at him with most flattering attention.
‘Your arm!’ she exclaimed. ‘It is all tied up! Was it you then–?’
Jimmy made her a mock bow.
‘I’m so glad I’ve got a cultured, English voice,’ he said. ‘And I can assure you that I wouldn’t have dreamed of using the language I did if I had had any suspicion that a lady was present.’
‘I did not understand all of it,’ the Countess hastened to explain. ‘Although I had an English governess when I was young–’
‘It isn’t the sort of thing she’d be likely to teach you,’ agreed Jimmy. ‘Kept you busy with your uncle’s pen, and the umbrella of the gardener’s niece. I know the sort of stuff.’
‘But what has happened?’ asked the Countess. ‘That is what I want to know. I demand to know what has happened.’
There was a moment’s silence whilst everybody looked at Superintendent Battle.
‘It’s very simple,’ said Battle mildly. ‘Attempted robbery. Some political papers stolen from Sir Stanley Digby. The thieves nearly got away with them, but thanks to this young lady’–he indicated Loraine–‘they didn’t.’
The Countess flashed a glance at the girl–rather an odd glance.
‘Indeed,’ she said coldly.
‘A very fortunate coincidence that she happened to be there,’ said Superintendent Battle, smiling.
The Countess gave a little sigh and half closed her eyes again.
‘It is absurd, but I still feel extremely faint,’ she murmured.
‘Of course you do,’ cried Bill. ‘Let me help you up to your room. Bundle will come with you.’
‘It is very kind of Lady Eileen,’ said the Countess, ‘but I should prefer to be alone. I am really quite all right. Perhaps you will just help me up the stairs.’
She rose to her feet, accepted Bill’s arm and, leaning heavily on it, went out of the room. Bundle followed as far as the hall, but, the Countess reiterating her assurance–with some tartness–that she was quite all right, she did not accompany them upstairs.
But as she stood watching the Countess’s graceful form, supported by Bill, slowly mounting the stairway, she stiffened suddenly to acute attention. The Countess’s negligée, as previously mentioned, was thin–a mere veil of orange chiffon. Through it Bundle saw distinctly below the right shoulder blade a small black mole.
With a gasp, Bundle swung impetuously round to where Superintendent Battle was just emerging from the library. Jimmy and Loraine had preceded him.
‘There,’ said Battle. ‘I’ve fastened the window and there will be a man on duty outside. And I’ll lock the door and take the key. In the morning we’ll do what the French call reconstruct the crime–Yes, Lady Eileen, what is it?’
‘Superintendent Battle, I must speak with you,–at once.’
‘Why, certainly, I–’
George Lomax suddenly appeared, Dr Cartwright by his side.
‘Ah, there you are, Battle. You’ll be relieved to hear that there’s nothing seriously wrong with O’Rourke.’
‘I never thought there would be much wrong with Mr O’Rourke,’ said Battle.
‘He’s had a strong hypodermic administered to him,’ said the doctor. ‘He’ll wake perfectly all right in the morning, perhaps a bit of a head, perhaps not. Now then, young man, let’s look at this bullet wound of yours.’
‘Come on, nurse,’ said Jimmy to Loraine. ‘Come and hold the basin or my hand. Witness a strong man’s agony. You know the stunt.’
Jimmy, Loraine and the doctor went off together. Bundle continued to throw agonized glances in the direction of Superintendent Battle, who had been buttonholed by George.
The Superintendent waited patiently till a pause occurred in George’s loquacity. He then swiftly took advantage of it.
‘I wonder, sir, if I might have a word privately with Sir Stanley? In the little study at the end there.’
‘Certainly,’ said George. ‘Certainly. I’ll go and fetch him at once.’
He hurried off upstairs again. Battle drew Bundle swiftly into the drawing-room and shut the door.
‘Now, Lady Eileen, what is it?’
‘I’ll tell you as quickly as I can–but it’s rather long and complicated.’
As concisely as she could, Bundle related her introduction to the Seven Dials Club