The Cluny Problem by A. E. Fielding

Author:A. E. Fielding
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781839740589
Publisher: Red Kestrel Books
Published: 2019-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

IX

Vivian stared at the stony look on all four faces turned to her. On Mackay’s features such an expression meant a warning, she felt sure. A warning that something important was afoot, and that she should be careful. The eyes of the juge were like icicle points. She took an instant dislike to Monsieur Grandpoint. One of those dislikes that are always mutual.

“Mademoiselle,” he began sternly, after the preliminary introduction; “why did you not tell us that Sir Anthony Cross, your fiancé, was down here to meet Mr. Brownlow on business.”

Vivian was more amazed by the question than she had been since the discovery of the two dead bodies. But she was a reporter. A very good one. Trained to keep her face under control. She did not show any signs of the surprise that she felt.

“Because I did not know it,” she replied coolly. “Is it a fact?”

“You had no idea that Sir Anthony was down here in Cluny except to run away with Madam Brownlow?” he asked sarcastically.

Vivian caught her breath.

“I don’t understand,” she said after a second. “I guess there’s something new happened that I haven’t heard of.”

Still she spoke in a calm tone that made the juge privately believe that she knew all this already.

“We have learned that there was no duel,” he said very coldly. And proceeded to tell her what he had just told Mrs. Brownlow.

Vivian only opened her eyes a little at the end. She glanced once during the recital at Mackay who nodded imperceptibly. As for Pointer, he only watched her with his pleasant gaze that gave sharp-witted Vivian the feeling that she was made of glass.

“No, there was no duel,” the juge repeated again; “but there are two murders. Two crimes. Possibly connected with this visit of Sir Anthony to our quiet little town. Possibly not connected with that visit at all.”

“Oh, yes, it was too!” Vivian spoke, as she had to listen partly, through Pointer. A proper interpreter was on his way from Lyons, but for the moment the chief inspector filled the post.

“My! Yes, it was!” she repeated Anthony Cross’s words to her of expecting to get some information down here in Cluny from a man whom he was going to meet. The juge listened attentively. Vivian, after a second’s hesitation, went on to speak of the constant thefts from parcels of diamonds sent to and from Amsterdam which had brought Sir Anthony to France in the first place.

“And you said nothing of this ‘mission’ of Sir Anthony’s up till now? Not when he was found shot?” the juge asked very quietly.

“I thought, like everyone else, that it was a duel. I guess I thought that more than anyone else,” she said firmly. “And that being so, Sir Anthony had asked me to consider everything he told me about the losses to his company as absolutely confidential.” She went on to say that she understood from him that inquiries were on foot which any talk or publicity might quite frustrate.

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