Towards Zero - Agatha Christie [26]
“Surely,” exclaimed Mary, “you don’t mean—?”
“Not at all, not at all,” said Mr. Treves. “You mistake me entirely. I am suggesting no disparagement of a guest of yours. I was merely pointing out that a hardened and brutal criminal can be in appearance a most charming and personable young man. Odd, but so it is.”
He smiled gently at her. Mary said: “You know, Mr. Treves, I think I am a little frightened of you.”
“Nonsense, dear lady.”
“But I am. You are—such a very shrewd observer.”
“My eyes,” said Mr. Treves complacently, “are as good as ever they were.” He paused and added: “Whether that is fortunate or unfortunate, I cannot at the moment decide.”
“How could it be unfortunate?”
Mr. Treves shook his head doubtfully.
“One is sometimes placed in a position of responsibility. The right course of action is not always easy to determine.”
Hurstall entered bearing the coffee tray.
After taking it to Mary and the old lawyer, he went down the room to Thomas Royde. Then, by Mary’s directions, he put the tray down on a low table and left the room.
Kay called over Ted’s shoulder. “We’ll finish out this tune.”
Mary said: “I’ll take Audrey’s out to her.”
She went to the french windows, cup in hand. Mr. Treves accompanied her. As she paused on the threshold he looked out over her shoulder.
Audrey was sitting on the corner of the balustrade. In the bright moonlight her beauty came to life—a beauty born of line rather than colour. The exquisite line from the jaw to the ear, the tender modelling of chin and mouth, and the really lovely bones of the head and the small straight nose. That beauty would be there when Audrey Strange was an old woman—it had nothing to do with the covering flesh—it was the bones themselves that were beautiful. The sequinned dress she wore accentuated the effect of the moonlight. She sat very still and Nevile Strange stood and looked at her.
Nevile took a step towards her.
“Audrey,” he said, “you—”
She shifted her position, then sprang lightly to her feet and clapped a hand to her ear:
“Oh! my earring—I must have dropped it.”
“Where? Let me look—”
They both bent down, awkward and embarrassed—and collided in doing so. Audrey sprang away. Nevile exclaimed:
“Wait a sec—my cuff button—it’s caught in your hair. Stand still.”
She stood quite still as he fumbled with the button.
“Oo—you’re pulling it out by the roots—how clumsy you are, Nevile, do be quick.”
“Sorry I—I seem to be all thumbs.”
The moonlight was bright enough for the two onlookers to see what Audrey could not see, the trembling of Nevile’s hands as he strove to free the strand of fair silvery hair.
But Audrey herself was trembling too—as though suddenly cold.
Mary Aldin jumped as a quiet voice said behind her:
“Excuse me—”
Thomas Royde passed between them and out.
“Shall I do that, Strange?” he asked.
Nevile straightened up and he and Audrey moved apart.
“It’s all right. I’ve done it.”
Nevile’s face was rather white.
“You’re cold,” said Thomas to Audrey. “Come in and have coffee.”
She came back with him and Nevile turned away staring out to sea.
“I was bringing it out to you,” said Mary. “But perhaps you’d better come in.”
“Yes,” said Audrey, “I think I’d better come in.”
They all went back into the drawing room. Ted and Kay had stopped dancing.
The door opened and a tall gaunt woman dressed in black came in. She said respectfully:
“Her ladyship’s compliments and she would be glad to see Mr. Treves up in her room.”
VI
Lady Tressilian received Mr. Treves with evident pleasure.
He and she were soon deep in an agreeable flood of reminiscences and a recalling of mutual acquaintances.
At the end of half an hour Lady Tressilian gave a deep sigh of satisfaction.