Part 15 (1/2)
The news spread as only such news can spread, and when Society poured out from theatres, from houses in Grosvenor Square, or from the dining-room of the Carlton, every one had heard the news.
It was as if the sprite of gossip had been busy whispering in over-willing ears.
”Philip de Mountford has been murdered.”
”He was found in a taxicab; his throat was cut from ear to ear.”
”No! no! not cut, I understand. Pierced through with a sharp instrument--a stiletto, I presume.”
”How horrible!”
”Poor Lord Radclyffe--such a tragedy----”
”He'll never live through it.”
”He has looked very feeble lately.”
”The scandal round the late Arthur's name broke him up, I think.”
”It seems Arthur de Mountford had married a negress.”
”No! no! Philip did not look like a half-caste. I saw him once or twice. He was dark but nice looking.”
”Still, there was some scandal about the marriage!”
”Nothing to what this scandal will be!”
”What scandal?”
”Seek whom the crime benefits, you know.”
”Then you think?--You really think Luke de Mountford did it?”
”I thought so the moment I heard the story.”
”I've always thought that Luke de Mountford a queer sort of fellow.”
”And he took his cousin's advent very badly.”
”Well one can't wonder at that exactly--to lose a future peerage all of a sudden--and he has no private fortune either----”
”Poor beggar.”
”I heard there were awful rows between the cousins until Lord Radclyffe himself turned Luke and the others out of the house.”
”And now Philip de Mountford has been murdered.”
”And the police will seek him whom the crime benefits.”
”It certainly looks very suspicious.”