Part 11 (2/2)

”You didn't say anything to me,” said Vita.

Enough was enough. I put a hand on each of their shoulders and pushed them through the porch. ”Neither one of you would win a beauty prize this morning,” I said, ”and it wasn't the bourbon that woke me at dawn, but Vita snoring. So shut up.”

We had to instal ourselves on the steps for the inevitable picture-taking by Bill, and it was nearly half-past ten before they were finally off. Once again Bill's hand-clasp was that of a conspirator.

”Hope we get this fine weather in Ireland,” he said. ”I'll watch the papers and listen to the radio forecasts to see what's happening here in Cornwall.” He looked at me, nodding imperceptibly. He meant that his eyes and ears would be alert for the first mention of a dastardly crime.

”Send us postcards,” said Vita. ”Wish we were coming with you.”

”You always can,” I said, ”when you get fed-up here.” It was not perhaps the most encouraging of remarks, and when we had finished waving and turned back towards the house Vita wore an abstracted air. ”I really believe”, she said, ”you'd be glad if the boys and I had gone off with them. Then you'd have this place to yourself again.”

”Don't talk nonsense,” I said.

”Well, you made your feelings pretty clear last night, flinging off to bed directly we'd finished dinner.”

”I flung off to bed, as you call it, because it bored me stiff to see you lolling about in Bill's arms and Diana waiting to do the same in mine. I'm just no good at party games, and you ought to know it by now.”

”Party games!” she laughed. ”What utter nonsense! Bill and Diana are my oldest friends. Where's your much-vaunted British sense of humour?”

”Not in tune with yours,” I said. ”I've a cruder sense of fun. If I pulled a mat from under your feet and you slipped up, I'd have hysterics.” We wandered back into the house, and just at that moment the telephone rang. I went into the library to answer it, and Vita followed me. I was afraid it might be Magnus, and it was.

”Yes?” I said guardedly.

”I got your message,” he said, ”but I've a very full day. Is it an awkward moment?”

Yes, I said.

”You mean Vita is in the room?”

”I understand. You can answer yes or no. Anything turned up?”

”Well, we've had visitors. They arrived yesterday, and have just left.” Vita was lighting up a cigarette. ”If it's your Professor-and I can't think who else it would be-give him my regards.”

”I will. Vita sends her regards,” I told Magnus.

”Return them. Ask her if it would be convenient for me to come for the weekend, arriving Friday evening.”

My heart leapt. Whether with excitement or the reverse I couldn't say. In any case with relief. Magnus would take over.

”Magnus wants to know if he can come on Friday for the weekend,” I said to her.

”Surely,” she answered. ”It's his house, after all. You'll have more fun entertaining your friend than you had putting up with mine.”

”Vita says of course,” I repeated to Magnus.

”Splendid. I'll let you know the train later. About your urgent call. Does it concern the other world?”

”Yes,” I said.

You went on a trip?

”Yes.”

”With ill-effect?”

I paused a moment, with a glance at Vita. She had made no attempt to leave the room. ”As a matter of fact I'm feeling pretty lousy,” I said. Something I ate or drank disagreed with me. I've been violently sick and have a peculiar bloodshot eye. It may be due to drinking bourbon before lobster.”

”Combined with taking a trip, you may well be right,” he answered. ”What about confusion?”

”That also. I could hardly think straight when I awoke.”

”I see. Anyone notice?”

I took another glance at Vita. ”Well, we were all pretty high last night,” I said, ”so the males of the party woke early. I had suffered a very vivid nightmare, and told Vita's friend Bill about it over a morning cup of tea.”

”How much did you tell?”

”About the nightmare? Just that. It was very real, you know what nightmares are. I thought I saw someone set on by thugs and drowned.”

”Serves you right,” said Vita. ”And it sounds more like the two helpings of lobster than the bourbon.”

”Was it one of our friends?” asked Magnus.

”Yes,” I answered. ”You know that chap who used to keep a boat years ago over at Chapel Point, and was always sailing round to Par? Well, the nightmare was about him. I dreamt his s.h.i.+p was dismasted in a storm, and when he finally came ash.o.r.e he was murdered by a jealous husband who thought he was after his wife.”

Vita laughed. ”If you ask me, she said, a dream of that sort means an uneasy conscience. You thought I was getting off with Bill and your vivid nightmare resulted from that. Here, let me talk to your Professor.” She crossed the room and seized the receiver from me. ”How are you, Magnus?” she said, her voice full of calculated charm. ”I shall be delighted to see you here in your own home next weekend. Maybe you'll put d.i.c.k in a better temper. He's very sour right now.” She smiled, her eyes on me. ”What's wrong with his eye?” she repeated.

”I haven't the slightest idea. He looks as if he's lost a prize-fight. Yes, of course I'll do my best to keep him quiet until you arrive, but he's very stubborn. Oh, by the way, you'll be able to tell me. My boys adore riding, and d.i.c.k says he saw some children on ponies having a lot of fun on Sunday morning when we were in church. I wondered if there were riding-stables somewhere the other side of the village there-what-do-you~callit'rywardreath. You don't know? Well, never mind, Mrs. Collins might tell me. What? Hold on, I'll ask him...” She turned to me. ”He says were the children the two little girls of someone called Oliver Carminowe and his wife? Old friends of his.”

”Yes,” I said. ”I'm almost sure they were. But I don't know where they live.”

She turned back to the telephone. ”d.i.c.k thinks yes, though I don't see why he should know if he hasn't met them. Oh well, if the mother is attractive he's probably seen her around some place, and that's how he knows who they were. She pulled a face at me. Yes, you do that,” she added, ”and if you get in touch with them next weekend we might ask them round for drinks, and d.i.c.k can get an introduction to her. See you Friday, then.”

She handed the receiver back to me. Magnus was laughing at the other end of the line.

”What's this about getting in touch with the Carminowes?” I asked.

”I got out of that rather neatly, don't you think?” he countered. ”In any event, it's what I intend to do, if we can get rid of Vita and the boys. In the meantime I'll get my lad in London to check up on Otto Bodrugan. So he came to a sticky end, and it upset you?”

”Yes,” I said.

”Roger was there, of course? Did he have a hand in it?”

I said no.

”Glad to hear it. Look, d.i.c.k, this is important. Absolutely no more trips unless we take one together. No matter how big the temptation. You must sweat it out. Is that agreed?”

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