17 - Spinsters in Jeopardy by Ngaio Marsh

Author:Ngaio Marsh [Ngaio Marsh]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-01-23T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VIII

Ricky Regained

Troy could scarcely endure the scene that followed and very nearly lost control of herself. She couldn't understand a word of what was said. Alleyn held her by the arm and kept saying: "In a minute, darling. He'll be here in a minute. He's all right. Hold on. He's all right."

Dupont and Callard were behaving like Frenchmen in English farces. Callard, especially, kept giving shrugs that began in his middle and surged up to his ears. His synthetic Americanisms fell away and when he threw a sentence in English at Troy or at Alleyn he spoke it like a Frenchman. He shouted to Alleyn: "If I lose my temper it is natural. I apologize. I knew nothing. It was the fault of my staff. There will be extensive dismissals. I am the victim of circumstances. I regret that I struck you."

He pounded his desk bell and shouted orders into the sound system. Voices from the other places said in mid-air: "Immédiatement, M. le Directeur." "Tout de suite. Monsieur." "Parfaitement, M. le Directeur." The secretary ran in at a high-heeled double and set up a gabble of protest which was cut short by Dupont. She teetered out again and could be heard yelping down her own sound system.

With one part of her mind Troy thought of the door and how it must soon open for Ricky and with another part she thought it was unlucky to anticipate this event and that the door would open for the secretary or a stranger and, so complicated were her thoughts, she also wondered if, when she saw Ricky, he would have a blank look of panic in his eyes, or if he would cry or be casually pleased, or if these speculations too were unlucky and he wouldn't come at all.

Stifled and terrified, she turned on Dupont and Callard and cried out: "Please speak English. You both can. Where is he? Why doesn't he come?"

"Madame," said Dupont gently, "he is here."

He had come in as she turned away from the door.

The secretary was behind him. She gave his shoulder a little push and he made a fastidious movement away from her and into the room. Troy knew that if she spoke her voice would shake. She held out her hand.

"Hallo, Rick," Alleyn said. "Sorry we've muddled you about."

"You have, rather," Ricky said. He saw Dupont and Callard. "How do you do," he said. He looked at Troy and his lip trembled. He ran savagely into her arms and fastened himself upon her. His fierce hard little body was rammed against hers, his arms gripped her neck and his face burrowed into it. His heart thumped piston-like at her breast.

"We'll take him out to the car," Alleyn said.

Troy rose, holding Ricky with his legs locked about her waist. Alleyn steadied her and they went out through the secretary's room and the lobby and the entrance hall to where Raoul waited in the sunshine.

When they approached the car Ricky released his hold on his mother as abruptly as he had imposed it.

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