They do it with mirrors - Agatha Christie [23]
‘We’re all a little mad, dear lady,’ Dr Maverick had said.
But it seemed to her that in Edgar’s case it went rather further than that.
II
Lewis Serrocold arrived back at six-thirty. He stopped the car at the gates and walked to the house through the park. Looking out of her window, Miss Marple saw Christian Gulbrandsen go out to meet him and the two men, having greeted one another, turned and paced to and fro up and down the terrace.
Miss Marple had been careful to bring her bird glasses with her. At this moment she brought them into action. Was there, or was there not, a flight of siskins by that far clump of trees?
She noted as the glasses swept down before rising that both men were looking seriously disturbed. Miss Marple leant out a little farther. Scraps of conversation floated up to her now and then. If either of the men should look up, it would be quite clear that an enraptured bird watcher had her attention fixed on a point far removed from their conversation.
‘…how to spare Carrie Louise the knowledge — ’ Gulbrandsen was saying.
The next time they passed below, Lewis Serrocold was speaking.
‘…if it can be kept from her. I agree that it is she who must be considered…’
Other faint snatches came to the listener.
‘ — Really serious — ’ ‘ — not justified — ’ ‘ — too big a responsibility to take — ’ ‘ — we should, perhaps, take outside advice — ’
Finally Miss Marple heard Christian Gulbrandsen say:
‘Ach, it grows cold. We must go inside.’
Miss Marple drew her head in through the window with a puzzled expression. What she had heard was too fragmentary to be easily pieced together — but it served to confirm that vague apprehension that had been gradually growing upon her and about which Ruth Van Rydock had been so positive.
Whatever was wrong at Stonygates, it definitely affected Carrie Louise.
III
Dinner that evening was a somewhat constrained meal. Both Gulbrandsen and Lewis were absent-minded and absorbed in their own thoughts. Walter Hudd glowered even more than usual, and for once Gina and Stephen seemed to have little to say either to each other or to the company at large. Conversation was mostly sustained by Dr Maverick, who had a lengthy technical discussion with Mr Baumgarten, one of the Occupational Therapists.
When they moved into the hall after dinner, Christian Gulbrandsen excused himself almost at once. He said he had an important letter to write.
‘So if you will forgive me, dear Carrie Louise, I will go now to my room.’
‘You have all you want there? Jolly?’
‘Yes, yes. Everything. A typewriter, I asked, and one has been put there. Miss Bellever has been most kind and attentive.’
He left the Great Hall by the door on the left which led past the foot of the main staircase and along a corridor, at the end of which was a suite of bedroom and bathroom.
When he had gone out Carrie Louise said:
‘Not going down to the theatre tonight, Gina?’
The girl shook her head. She went over and sat by the window overlooking the front drive and the court.
Stephen glanced at her, then strolled over to the big grand piano. He sat down at it and strummed very softly — a queer melancholy little tune. The two Occupational Therapists, Mr Baumgarten and Mr Lacy, and Dr Maverick, said goodnight and left. Walter turned on the switch of a reading lamp and with a crackling noise half the lights in the hall went out.
He growled.
‘That darned switch is always faulty. I’ll go and put a new fuse in.’
He left the Hall and Carrie Louise murmured, ‘Wally’s so clever with electrical gadgets and things like that. You remember how he fixed that toaster?’
‘It seems to be all he does do here,’ said Mildred Strete. ‘Mother, have you taken your tonic?’
Miss Bellever looked annoyed.
‘I declare I completely forgot tonight.’ She jumped up and went into the dining-room, returning presently with a small glass containing a little rose-coloured fluid.
Smiling a little, Carrie Louise held out an obedient hand.
‘Such horrid stuff and nobody lets me forget it,’ she said, making a wry face.
And then, rather unexpectedly,