Death In Ecstasy 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 15

Father Garnette Explores The Contents Of A Mare's Nest

No," said Alleyn, "she kept his letters. Women keep love letters for much the same reason as a servant keeps references. They help to preserve, as M. de Ravigne might say, the amour propre; and can always be produced upon occasion."

"Angela never shows my letters to anyone," said Nigel hotly. "Never."

"Not to her bosomest friend? No? You are fortunate. Perhaps she hopes they may be found, smelling faintly of orrisroot, if she predeceases you."

"That is a remark in bad taste, I consider."

"I agree and apologise. You don't question the taste of reading Miss Quayne's love letters over Fox's shoulder, I notice," said Alleyn mildly.

"That's entirely different," blustered Nigel. "Miss Quayne was murdered."

"Which makes her fair game. I know, I know. Well, what do you think of M. de Ravigne's effusion?"

"It looks monstrous fishy to me," said Nigel. "What does he mean about her putting herself in a position that is fraught with danger? It looks remarkably like a threat. 'Take on the Chosen Vessel job and your life will be in danger.' "

"He doesn't actually say her life, Mr. Bathgate," said Fox, glancing up from another of the letters.

"No," agreed Alleyn. "He may be old-fashioned enough to think there is something a woman values more than her life."

"Well," said Nigel, "what do you think inspired the letter?"

"An interesting point, Bathgate. I don't know. Jealousy perhaps or--yes--it might be fear. He was very agitated when he wrote it."

"How do you make that out?"

"The phraseology betrays him. The English is much less certain than in the other letters. There are several mistakes."

"I think the postscript looks very shady."

"It does, doesn't it? What do you say, Fox?"

"Well, sir, I'd say the gentleman knew something that he didn't exactly like to mention in black and white. It might be he knew there'd be goings-on with the Reverend, and it might be something he was afraid she'd find out. That postscript looks to me as though he was scared."

"You wise old bird. Well, I've finished here. We'll leave your mates to do the tooth-combing, Fox. They are upstairs at the moment. I've a date with Mr. Rattisbon."

"He was the solicitor in the O'Callaghan case, wasn't he?" asked Nigel.

"He was. He's everything that a lawyer ought to be. Desiccated, tittuppy, nice old fuss-pot. Gives one the idea that he is a good actor slightly overdoing his part. I must away, Fox. Meet you at the Garnette apartment, as Mr. Ogden would say."

"Right-oh, sir."

"Anyone else going?" Nigel inquired.

"No doubt you will appear. I expect the Initiates to turn up in full force. Two o'clock."

"Certainly, I shall come," said Nigel. "Au revoir."

Nigel returned to his office and Alleyn went down the Strand to the little street where Mr. Rattisbon kept office.

It was one of those offices that look as if they were kept going as a memorial to Charles Dickens. A dingy entry smelt of cobwebs and old varnish. A dark staircase led to a landing, where a frosted-glass skylight let in enough light to show Mr.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.