The Seven Dials Mystery - Agatha Christie [72]
The ball, heavily topped, scudded across the lawn and disappeared into the unfathomed depths of a great bank of rhododendrons.
‘Curious,’ said Lord Caterham. ‘What did I do then, I wonder? As I was saying, Bundle, that friend of yours is a very nice girl. I really think I am inducing her to take quite an interest in the game. She hit some excellent shots this morning–really quite as good as I could do myself.’
Lord Caterham took another careless swing and removed an immense chunk of turf. MacDonald, who was passing retrieved it and stamped it firmly back. The look he gave Lord Caterham would have caused anyone but an ardent golfer to sink through the earth.
‘If MacDonald has been guilty of cruelty to Cootes, which I strongly suspect,’ said Bundle, ‘he’s being punished now.’
‘Why shouldn’t I do as I like in my own garden?’ demanded her father. ‘MacDonald ought to be interested in the way my game is coming on–the Scotch are a great golfing nation.’
‘You poor old man,’ said Bundle. ‘You’ll never be a golfer–but at any rate it keeps you out of mischief.’
‘Not at all,’ said Lord Caterham. ‘I did the long sixth in five the other day. The pro was very surprised when I told him about it.’
‘He would be,’ said Bundle.
‘Talking of Cootes, Sir Oswald plays a fair game–a very fair game. Not a pretty style–too stiff. But straight down the middle every time. But curious how the cloven hoof shows–won’t give you a six inch putt! Makes you put it in every time. Now I don’t like that.’
‘I suppose he’s a man who likes to be sure,’ said Bundle.
‘It’s contrary to the spirit of the game,’ said her father. ‘And he’s not interested in the theory of the thing either. Now, that secretary chap, Bateman, is quite different. It’s the theory interests him. I was slicing badly with my spoon; and he said it all came from too much right arm; and he evolved a very interesting theory. It’s all left arm in golf–the left arm is the arm that counts. He says he plays tennis left handed but golf with ordinary clubs because there his superiority with the left arm tells.’
‘And did he play very marvellously?’ inquired Bundle.
‘No, he didn’t,’ confessed Lord Caterham. ‘But then he may have been off his game. I see the theory all right and I think there’s a lot in it. Ah! Did you see that one, Bundle? Right over the rhododendrons. A perfect shot. Ah! If one could be sure of doing that every time–Yes, Tredwell, what is it?’
Tredwell addressed Bundle.
‘Mr Thesiger would like to speak to you on the telephone, my lady.’
Bundle set off at full speed for the house, yelling ‘Loraine, Loraine,’ as she did so. Loraine joined her just as she was lifting the receiver.
‘Hallo, is that you, Jimmy?’
‘Hallo. How are you?’
‘Very fit, but a bit bored.’
‘How’s Loraine?’
‘She’s all right. She’s here. Do you want to speak to her?’
‘In a minute. I’ve got a lot to say. To begin with, I’m going down to the Cootes for the week-end,’ he said significantly. ‘Now, look here, Bundle, you don’t know how one gets hold of skeleton keys, do you?’
‘Haven’t the foggiest. Is it really necessary to take skeleton keys to the Cootes?’
‘Well, I had a sort of idea they’d come in handy. You don’t know the sort of shop one gets them at?’
‘What you want is a kindly burglar friend to show you the ropes.’
‘I do, Bundle, I do. And unfortunately I haven’t got one. I thought perhaps your bright brain might grapple successfully with the problem. But I suppose I shall have to fall back upon Stevens as usual. He’ll be getting some funny ideas in his head soon about me–first a blue-nosed automatic–and now skeleton keys. He’ll think I’ve joined the criminal classes.’
‘Jimmy?’ said Bundle.
‘Yes?’
‘Look here–be careful, won’t you? I mean if Sir Oswald finds you nosing around with skeleton keys–well, I should think he could be very unpleasant when he likes.’
‘Young man of pleasing appearance in the dock! All right, I’ll be careful. Pongo’s the fellow I’m really frightened of. He sneaks around so on those