The Seven Dials Mystery - Agatha Christie [84]
Loraine nodded.
‘I know. It seems ages since Jimmy went and yet it’s only a minute and a half.’
‘I keep hearing things,’ said Bundle. ‘Footsteps and boards creaking upstairs–and yet I know it’s only imagination.’
‘I wonder why Jimmy left us the revolver,’ said Loraine. ‘There can’t really be danger.’
‘If they could get Bill–’ said Bundle and stopped.
Loraine shivered.
‘I know–but we’re in the house. Nobody can get in without our hearing them. And anyway we’ve got the revolver.’
Bundle turned her attention back again to Bill.
‘I wish I knew what to do. Hot coffee. You give them that sometimes.’
‘I’ve got some smelling-salts in my bag,’ said Loraine. ‘And some brandy. Where is it? Oh, I must have left it in the room upstairs.’
‘I’ll get it,’ said Bundle. ‘They might do some good.’
She sped quickly up the stairs, across the gaming room and through the open door into the meeting place. Loraine’s bag was lying on the table.
As Bundle stretched out her hand to take it, she heard a noise from behind her. Hidden behind the door a man stood ready with a sand-bag in his hand. Before Bundle could turn her head, he had struck.
With a faint moan, Bundle slipped down, an unconscious heap upon the floor.
Chapter 31
The Seven Dials
Very slowly Bundle returned to consciousness. She was aware of a dark, spinning blackness, the centre of which was a violent, throbbing ache. Punctuating this were sounds. A voice that she knew very well saying the same thing over and over again.
The blackness span less violently. The ache was now definitely located as being in Bundle’s own head. And she was sufficiently herself to take an interest in what the voice was saying.
‘Darling, darling Bundle. Oh, darling Bundle. She’s dead; I know she’s dead. Oh, my darling. Bundle, darling, darling Bundle. I do love you so. Bundle–darling–darling–’
Bundle lay quite still with her eyes shut. But she was now fully conscious. Bill’s arms held her closely.
‘Bundle darling–Oh, dearest, darling Bundle. Oh, my dear love. Oh, Bundle–Bundle. What shall I do? Oh, darling one–my Bundle–my own dearest, sweetest Bundle. Oh, God, what shall I do? I’ve killed her. I’ve killed her.’
Reluctantly–very reluctantly–Bundle spoke.
‘No, you haven’t, you silly idiot,’ she said.
Bill gave a gasp of utter amazement.
‘Bundle–you’re alive.’
‘Of course I’m alive.’
‘How long have you been–I mean when did you come to?’
‘About five minutes ago.’
‘Why didn’t you open your eyes–or say something?’
‘Didn’t want to. I was enjoying myself.’
‘Enjoying yourself?’
‘Yes. Listening to all the things you were saying. You’ll never say them so well again. You’ll be too beastly self-conscious.’
Bill had turned a dark brick-red.
‘Bundle–you really didn’t mind? You know, I do love you so. I have for ages. But I never have dared to tell you so.’
‘You silly juggins,’ said Bundle. ‘Why?’
‘I thought you’d only laugh at me. I mean–you’ve got brains and all that–you’ll marry some bigwig.’
‘Like George Lomax?’ suggested Bundle.
‘I don’t mean a fatuous ass like Codders. But some really fine chap who’ll be worthy of you–though I don’t think anyone could be that,’ ended Bill.
‘You’re rather a dear, Bill.’
‘But, Bundle, seriously, could you ever? I mean, could you ever bring yourself to?’
‘Could I ever bring myself to do what?’
‘Marry me. I know I’m awfully thick-headed–but I do love you, Bundle. I’d be your dog or your slave or your anything.’
‘You’re very like a dog,’ said Bundle. ‘I like dogs. They’re so friendly and faithful and warm-hearted. I think that perhaps I could just bring myself to marry you, Bill–with a great effort, you know.’
Bill’s response to this was to relinquish his grasp of her and recoil violently. He looked at her with amazement in his eyes.
‘Bundle–you don’t mean it?’
‘There’s nothing for it,’ said Bundle. ‘I see I shall have to relapse into unconsciousness again.’
‘Bundle–darling–’ Bill caught her to him. He was trembling violently. ‘Bundle–do you really mean it–do you?–you don’t know how much I love you.’
‘Oh, Bill,’ said Bundle.
There is no