False Scent by Ngaio Marsh

Author:Ngaio Marsh [Marsh, Ngaio]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: C429, Extratorrents, Kat
Published: 2010-01-22T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

On the Scent

When Anelida rang the bell at 2 Pardoner's Place, it was answered, almost at once, by a policeman.

She said, "It's Miss Lee. I've been talking to Superintendent Alleyn. He knows I'm here and I think is probably coming himself in a moment. I want to speak to Mr. Richard Dakers."

The policeman said, "I see, Miss. Well, now, if you'll wait a moment I'll just find out whether that'll be all right. Perhaps you'd take a chair."

"No, thank you. I want to see him at once, please."

"I'll ascertain..." he had begun rather austerely when Alleyn himself arrived.

"Sir?"

"Yes, all right. Is Mr. Dakers still in the drawing-room? Good." Alleyn looked at Anelida. "Come along," he said. She lifted her chin and went to him.

She was in a state of mind she had never before experienced. It was as if her thoughts and desires and behaviour had been abruptly simplified and were governed by a single intention. She knew that somewhere within herself she must be afraid, but she also knew that fear, as things had turned out, was inadmissible.

She followed Alleyn across the hall. He said, "Here you are," and opened a door. She went from the hall into the drawing-room.

Immediately inside the door was a tall leather screen. She walked round it and there, staring out of a window, was Richard. Anelida moved a little towards him and halted. This gave her time to realize how very much she liked the shape of his head and at once she felt an immense tenderness for him and even a kind of exultation. In a second, she would speak his name, she would put herself absolutely on his side.

"Richard," she said.

He turned. She noticed that his face had bleached, not conventionally, over the cheekbone, but at the temples and down the jaw-line.

"Anelida?"

"I had to come. I'm trying to make up for my bad behaviour. Here, you see, I am."

He came slowly to her and when he took her hands in his, did so doubtfully. "I can't believe my luck," he said. "I thought I'd lost you quite irrevocably. Cause enough, God knows."

"On the contrary, I assure you."

He broke into an uncertain smile. "The things you say! Such grand phrases!" His hands tightened on hers. "You know what's happened, don't you? About Mary?"

"Yes. Richard, I'm so terribly sorry. And what a hopeless phrase that is!"

"I shouldn't let you stay. It's not the place for you. This is a nightmare of a house."

"Do you want me? Am I any good, being here?"

"I love you." He lifted her hands to his face. "Ah no! Why did I tell you! This isn't the time."

"Are you all right now--to talk, I mean? To talk very seriously?"

"I'm all right. Come over here."

They sat together on the sofa, Richard still holding her hands. "He told us you fainted," said Anelida.

"Alleyn? Has he been worrying you?"

"Not really. But it's because of what he did say that I'm here. And because--Richard, when I wouldn't see you and you went away--did you come back here?"

"Yes," he said.

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