The Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham

Author:Margery Allingham [Margery Allingham]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2007-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

THE HELPFUL OFFICIAL

A SILENT GROUP of men climbed out of the two cars in the drive of The Beckoning Lady shortly after half-past ten. Mr. Campion and Luke, who had followed behind the police car, were in anxious mood and Luke particularly was wary. Superintendent Fred South alone was smiling happily. His horrible hat was worn well on the back of his head, his tight sportscoat was open and he looked the kindest and jolliest of countrymen.

“I’ll leave my chaps here, Chief,” he suggested, his eyes full of merry unspoken hints. “No need to frighten the poor lady with a football crowd. Let’s go round the back, too. I always go round the back.” He burst into a cloud of little giggles and led them unprotesting to the kitchen door.

Minnie received them on the concrete platform outside the window of Uncle William’s deserted room. She was seated on a low stool, shelling peas with Westy and George Meredith to help her. There was a half-hundredweight sack of them on the stone beside her and both she and the boys each had a small basin which they emptied into a huge punchbowl of blue china which stood in the centre of the group. It was warm in the sun, and just below them, at the foot of a flowery bank, the river ran golden water. She glanced sharply at Campion and he noticed with dismay that her face was drawn and set.

“I’m so sorry I can’t get up,” she said, smiling politely at Luke. “If I do I shall spill all these. Boys, will you be lambs and go down to the village to get the table-silver? You know where it is. Mrs. Claude has been cleaning it for us, bless her. Oh, of course, you took it to her. Well, go and get it, and take it into the studio.”

Fred South beamed. “You put it all out as piece-work, do you, ma’am?” he asked, seating himself in Westy’s place. “That’s a good idea.”

“I bully my friends to do it,” she said, laughing. “I’m so grateful to Amanda, Albert. She’s slaving on that wretched wherry. Rupert is with the twins in the dining-room. Emma is icing cake there. I never feel a party’s a party without little pink cakes. Lugg is spud-bashing, as he calls it, with Dinah, and old Harry is in the back kitchen cooking hams. He has some secret way of doing it which is terrific. Pinky should be here soon, too. She’s going to do the flowers. It’s a dreadful set-out, but everybody’s being so good.”

Mr. Campion motioned Luke to George Meredith’s seat and sat down himself on the edge of the platform.

“Tonker, I take it, is still in bed doing the cross-word puzzle?” he suggested.

Minnie’s characteristic snort escaped her. “I’m afraid he is, the old cad,” she said. “Do you want to see him?”

“In a little while, ma’am. We just want to have a word with you first.” The Superintendent was twinkling at her and Luke cleared his throat warningly.

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