Send For Paul Temple by Francis Durbridge

Author:Francis Durbridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Send for Paul Temple
ISBN: 9780755126200
Publisher: House of Stratus
Published: 2013-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter XVI

Going Down!

“I should ring again!” said Steve.

She was standing outside Dr. Milton’s house with Paul Temple. A few yards away, in the drive, stood the car in which they had arrived from Bramley Lodge a few minutes before.

Once again Paul Temple pressed the bell-push. In the distance they could hear the peal of the electric bell echoing through the house. The noise stopped and everything was as still as before. The atmosphere seemed strained and eerie, as though immediately before a thunderstorm. Steve gripped her companion’s arm. Through his thick overcoat he could feel the strength with which she held him.

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone in, as far as I can—” He broke off. “Just a minute!”

Resounding through the hall, they could hear footsteps approaching. Next they heard bolts being drawn and presently the door opened. Before them stood Snow Williams.

“Good evening, sir,” he said quietly.

“I should like to see Dr. Milton,” said Temple. “My name is—”

“Dr. Milton is out!” the other interrupted. “He went into Evesham about an hour ago.”

“Oh. Oh, I see,” Temple replied. “Er, then perhaps Miss Thornley would—”

“Miss Thornley is with the doctor, sir.” Snow Williams spoke in his dispassionate voice, and instinctively Paul Temple felt there was no truth in what he was saying.

“Oh. Er, that’s rather unfortunate, isn’t it?” he said after a moment’s pause.

“Was the doctor expecting you, sir?”

“No,” replied Temple. “No, I don’t think he was. Still, if he’s only popped into Evesham, it might be quite a good idea if we waited.”

Snow Williams did not appear to welcome the proposal.

“I hardly think the doctor will be back for quite a little while, sir.”

“Oh, er, don’t you?” asked Temple. “Still, I think we’ll wait,” he said pleasantly.

Snow Williams hesitated.

“Very good, sir,” he said at last. “This way, if you please.”

He closed the door and led the way through a large and stately hall. Their footsteps echoed over the parquet floor. One or two oil paintings hung on the walls. On an old-fashioned carved mahogany stand hung a collection of coats and hats.

The ‘butler’ opened a door and showed them into a large, comfortable room which appeared to be in frequent use. Newspapers and periodicals littered the tables and chairs. Among them Paul Temple noticed a copy of the Police Review and suppressed a smile. On the mantelpiece stood a number of small gilt statuettes. The doctor seemed fond of sculpture. In a corner of the room stood a statue, half life size, of Aphrodite. In the hall, Paul Temple had seen another large marble statue of Apollo. Dr. Milton was apparently very classical in his tastes, if a little obvious, Paul Temple reflected.

“This is the lounge, sir,” Snow Williams informed them. “I’ll let you know immediately the doctor returns.”

“Splendid!”

“What name shall I—”

“Temple. Paul Temple.”

A look of surprise came into the man’s eyes.

“Temple?” he repeated. He paused, then seemed to recollect himself. “Oh, thank you, sir.”

Then he left the room and closed the door.

Steve Trent did not know whether to laugh or shudder at this strange specimen of humanity.

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