A Bullet for Rhino by Clifford Witting

Author:Clifford Witting
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Galileo Publishing
Published: 2024-05-02T18:27:04+00:00

CHAPTER XVIII

ONE OF THEM IS SETTLED

Fortified by his swig, Colonel Garstang was about to leave the grove and make his way to the dining-hall in order to listen to the concert—for, as far as his old school was concerned, he was a great respecter of tradition—when he caught sight of his daughter Diana, who had come in search of him.

“Father,” she said hesitantly, “about Gordon. Sir James has been talking to me. He says that if Gordon goes to Africa, he’ll probably die of malaria. He nearly did last time he got it. Sir James says Gordon’s absolutely made up his mind to go if I do, and he was trying to persuade me not to.”

“Who was?”

“Sir James. He thinks I ought to stay with Mummy.”

“Damn his interference! You can tell him from me that the arrangement stands. If he doesn’t want the boy to come, then it’s up to him to stop him!”

A doubt crept into his mind. He cocked an eye at Diana.

“You’re not ratting?”

“No, Father,” she answered firmly, “definitely not. I gave you a promise and I’m not going to break it.”

He patted her on the shoulder.

“Good girl.”

“I really believe Sir James is exaggerating purposely, just to keep Gordon at home.”

“You’re right! Yes, that’s it—exaggerating. Making a song and dance. Probably die of malaria! Pah!”

They continued talking in this strain as they moved through the grove and came to the drive. Here they paused for a while until Diana mentioned that she ought to be going because her help was needed in the gym. With a promise to see her father after the concert, she ran off along the drive, while he turned his slow and heavy steps towards the dining-hall. He came into the quad while Compton Three was still staring up in awe at the flagstaff.

After his brush with Mark Longdon, Inspector Charlton glanced through the glass panels of the swing-doors and saw that his party had gone. Knowing that Judy had agreed to help with the refreshments in the gymnasium, he went back across the front hall into the central hall, where he turned to the right and proceeded past the main staircase and along the corridor to the entrance in the middle wing. He descended the steps into the east drive, turned again to the right and, passing the “chemmy-lab” hut, came to the gymnasium. Meanwhile—for this was before the incidents just recorded—Compton Three was still lurking behind the fives-courts, and Colonel Garstang was talking in the grove with Diana.

Charlton entered the gymnasium, where things were being got ready for the dance. Maxy Ellison and His Rhythm Boys had just arrived from Guildford and were arranging their chairs and music-stands on the stage. Margot Hollander and Eric Randall were both in evidence, she helping the other ladies, and he conferring with Mr. Maxy Ellison on the programme of dance music to be played. Charlton found Judy, but she was busy and had not much time to spare for him, so, after lingering for a short while, he decided to look in at the concert, and left the gymnasium.

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