Inspector Alleyn 3-Book Collection 7: Off with this Head, Singing in the Shrouds, False Scent by Ngaio Marsh

Author:Ngaio Marsh [Marsh, Ngaio]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 1956-03-17T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

After Las Palmas

The passengers always met for coffee in the lounge at eleven o’clock. On the morning after Las Palmas this ceremony marked the first appearance of Mrs Dillington-Blick and Aubyn Dale, neither of whom had come down for breakfast. It was a day with an enervating faint wind and the coffee was iced.

Alleyn had chosen this moment to present Mrs Dillington-Blick with the disjecta membra of Esmeralda. She had already sent Dennis to find the doll and was as fretful as a good-natured woman can be when he came back empty-handed. Alleyn told her that at a late hour he and Father Jourdain had discovered Esmeralda lying on the deck. He then indicated the newspaper parcel that he had laid out on the end of the table.

He did this at the moment when the men of the party and Miss Abbott were gathered round the coffee. Mrs Cuddy, Mrs Dillington-Blick and Jemima always allowed themselves the little ceremony of being waited upon by the gentlemen. Miss Abbott consistently lined herself up in the queue and none of the men had the temerity to question this procedure.

With the connivance of Father Jourdain and Tim Makepiece, Alleyn unveiled Esmeralda at the moment when Aubyn Dale, Mr Merryman, Mr Cuddy and Mr McAngus were hard by the table.

‘Here she is,’ he said, ‘and I’m afraid she presents rather a sorry sight.’

He flicked the newspaper away in one jerk. Mrs Dillington-Blick cried out sharply.

Esmeralda lying on her back with her head twisted over her shoulder and the beads and dead hyacinth in position.

After its owner’s one ejaculation the doll’s exposure was followed by a dead silence and then by a violent oath from Mr Merryman.

Almost simultaneously Miss Abbott ejaculated: ‘Don’t!’

Her cup of iced coffee had tilted and the contents had fallen over Mr Merryman’s hands.

Miss Abbott moistened her lips and said: ‘You must have jolted my arm, Mr Merryman.’

‘My dear Madam, I did nothing of the sort!’ he contradicted and angrily flipped his hands. Particles of iced coffee flew in all directions. One alighted on Mr Cuddy’s nose. He seemed to be quite unaware of it. Half smiling, he stared at Esmeralda and with lightly clasped fingers revolved his thumbs slowly round each other.

Aubyn Dale said loudly: ‘Why have you done this! It looks disgusting.’ He reached out and with a quick movement brushed the dead hyacinth off the doll. The beads fell away with a clatter and rolled about the table. Dale straightened the flashily smiling head.

Mr McAngus murmured gently: ‘She looks quite herself again, doesn’t she? Perhaps she can be mended.’

‘I don’t understand all this,’ Dale said angrily to Alleyn. ‘Why did you do it?’

‘Do what, exactly?’

‘Lay it out like that. Like – like – ’

Mrs Cuddy said with relish: ‘Like one of those poor girls. Flowers and beads and everything: giving us all such a turn.’

‘The doll,’ Alleyn said, ‘is exactly as Father Jourdain and I found it: hyacinth and all. I’m sorry if it’s upset anyone.’

Mrs Dillington-Blick had come to the table.

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