The Case of the Late Pig by Margery Allingham

Author:Margery Allingham [Allingham, Margery]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Private investigators, London (England), Mystery & Detective, General, Women Sleuths, Traditional British, Fiction, Campion; Albert (Fictitious character)
ISBN: 9780380705771
Publisher: Avon Books (Mm)
Published: 1989-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

CHAPTER 10

The Parson’s Dram

« ^ »

I did not reply. In the circumstances of my extreme ignorance there was very little I could say. I remained silent, therefore, and, I hope, enigmatic. However, he was not to be drawn.

‘I hadn’t thought of the creature myself,’ he said unexpectedly, ‘but there may be something there. It’s a valuable contribution. You seem to be unexpectedly intelligent, if I may say so without offence.’

He sighed and sat down on the grass.

‘Yes,’ he continued, clasping his knees. ‘Thinking it over we ought to go far, you and I, once we can come to an understanding. Now, about this question of terms… I hate to insist upon the subject, but at the moment my financial affairs are in considerable disorder. How far would you be prepared to meet me?’

‘Not to a pound,’ I said flatly, but with politeness. ‘If you know anything about the death of your nephew it’s your obvious duty to go to the police with it.’

Mr Hayhoe shrugged his shoulders. ‘Oh, well,’ he said regretfully, ‘I gave you the opportunity. You can’t deny that.’

I turned away expecting him to call me back, which he did.

‘My dear young man,’ he protested when I had taken a few steps down the hill, ‘don’t be precipitate. Let us talk this thing over reasonably. I have certain information which is of value to you. Why should we quarrel?’

‘If you knew anything of importance,’ I said over my shoulder, ‘you’d hardly dare to talk about it.’

‘All, you don’t understand.’ He seemed greatly relieved. ‘My own situation is perfectly safe. I have nothing to lose, everything to gain. My position is simple. I happen to possess an asset which I intend to realize. There are two likely purchasers : one is yourself, and the other is a certain person I need not name. Naturally, I shall dispose to the highest bidder.’

I was growing weary of him. ‘Mr Hayhoe,’ I said, ‘I am tired. I want to go to bed. You are wasting my time. You are also making a fool of yourself. I’m sorry to be so explicit, but there it is.’

He got up. ‘Look here, Campion,’ he said with a complete change of tone, his artificiality dropping from him and a wheedling note taking its place, ‘I could tell you something interesting if I wanted to. The police can pull me in and bully rag me, but they can’t hold me because they’ve nothing on me. I shan’t talk to them and they can’t make me. I can put you on to the right track for a consideration. What’s it worth to you?’

‘At this stage, very little,’ I said. ‘Half a crown, perhaps.’

He laughed. ‘I think I can get more than that,’ he said softly. ‘Very much more. However, I’m not a rich man. Between ourselves, at the moment I’m very short indeed. Suppose we meet tomorrow morning, not quite as early as this? Say, seven o’clock. That gives me a clear twenty-four hours. If I can’t get satisfaction in other quarters, well, I may bate my price a little.

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.