The Spiked Lion: An Anthony Bathurst Mystery by Brian Flynn

Author:Brian Flynn [Flynn, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General
ISBN: 9781913527433
Google: iYS_zQEACAAJ
Amazon: 1913527433
Publisher: Dean Street Press
Published: 2020-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XVI

THE TURN OF THE SCREW

The road that Anthony now travelled he had travelled before. It may be safely presumed, therefore, from that statement, that Mr. Bathurst knew his way. When he came to the turning that he desired he made his way down it and pulled up the car in front of the first house on the right. There was a brass plate affixed to the wall, by the big gate. For the benefit of those who desired such information it read, “Arnold Summerhayes, M.B.”

Mr. Bathurst descended from his car, walked up the drive and rang the bell. To his surprise he was admitted by no less a person than Summerhayes himself. Judging by the expression on the doctor’s face when he realized the identity of his visitor, this condition of surprise was mutual.

“I’m afraid that you’re—” He stopped and looked round rather hopelessly, as though at a loss for a word.

“Inconvenient, possibly,” returned Anthony, “but surely not unwelcome? That thought would cut me to the quick. May I come in, Dr. Summerhayes?”

“Well,” responded the doctor, “that you must, of course, having come, I suppose, some distance to see me. I can’t very well talk to you at my front door. Come this way, Mr. Bathurst.”

Anthony obeyed and followed the doctor into what was evidently the latter’s consulting-room.

“Sit down, Mr. Bathurst. If you can say what you have to say in ten minutes, I should be infinitely obliged. Truth to tell, I’m in the devil of a hurry.” Summerhayes looked pointedly at his watch.

“You humiliate me, you know, Doctor, when you stress so the inconvenience of my arrival.”

Summerhayes laughed in apology. “Now you’re putting the boot on the other foot. I’m sorry if I appear inhospitable. That would be the last thing of which I should like to be thought guilty. I assure you that I have excellent reasons for my apparent haste. I’ll explain what they are after you’ve had your say.” A smile flitted across his lean face.

Bathurst began to wonder more and more. He determined, however, to let this condition lie fallow for a time, and come, first of all, to the main point of his visit. There was no gainsaying the fact that Dr. Summerhayes had certainly given him the broadest of hints. “Something has happened, Doctor, since my last visit, which I regard as so tremendously important that I have come back to ask you two more questions concerning the murder of Hugh Guest.”

Summerhayes looked puzzled. “I’m afraid that I don’t quite understand. To what do you allude? I, myself, have—”

“I allude, Doctor, to the unexpected change in the position of our mutual acquaintance, Sir Richard Ingle.” Bathurst watched him keenly. How had he reacted to the mention of Ingle’s name?

“I’m aware of it, of course,” replied Summerhayes, “but I fail to see how it concerns the poisoning of Guest—in the slightest.” His tall figure fidgeted in his chair.

“We’ll waive that,” conceded Anthony, “willingly. I didn’t expect that you would. It will save us time.

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