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‘Oh, Maurice, I’m so glad you’ve come!’
He took her hands, holding them firmly in his for a moment. ‘I couldn’t come sooner. I was in the middle of my surgery when Hinchcliffe rang up to tell me. How’s Ermyntrude?’
‘Awful!’ said Mary, with a shudder. ‘Lyceum stage. It’s no use frowning at me. You’ll see.’
He looked critically at her. ‘You look as though you’re in need of my professional services yourself. I prescribe a stiff whisky-and-soda. See you take it!’
‘It’s not such a bad idea,’ she admitted. ‘I don’t seem to have had time to collect myself. I can’t even quite grasp what’s happened. It doesn’t seem possible!’
‘What did happen?’ he asked. ‘Hinchcliffe merely told me that White sent for him, and that he found Carter dead – shot on the bridge. Is anything known?’
‘No, nothing. There are only the most nightmarish possibilities. We had a Police Inspector here until a short time ago. It was – pretty ghastly. I always thought I was a level-headed sort of person, but I didn’t seem able to think things out a bit, and I’m afraid I made a perfect fool of myself. Hugh keeps on drumming it into me that I must tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but you know what a hopelessly wrong impression one can give by telling some truths!’
‘Hugh Dering? Is he here?’
‘No, not now. He was here when it happened, and he stayed, like the angel he is, until the Inspector left. Do you want to see Ermyntrude?’
‘Yes, where is she?’
‘Receiving consolation from the Prince in the drawing-room,’ she replied.
‘That fellow!’ Chester said, in a tone of disgust. ‘All right, show me in!’
Ermyntrude was once more reclining on a couch, but by this time she had put on her corsets again, and, following her daughter’s example, a black tea-gown. A shaded lamp stood behind the couch, and beside her the Prince sat, upon a low chair, holding one of her hands in his, and talking to her in his soft, caressing way. When Mary opened the door, Ermyntrude sighed: ‘Oh, can’t I be left in peace ever?’ But when she saw Chester walk in, she exclaimed in a much more robust tone: ‘Oh, Maurice, if it’s not you! Oh, come in, come in! You’re the very person I want!’
The Prince got up. If he was annoyed, he did not show it, but smiled and bowed, and said that he gladly relinquished his place to the doctor.
Ermyntrude sat up, extending her hand towards Chester. ‘Oh, Maurice, I wish it had been you!’ she said. ‘Somehow it seems to make it worse, Hinchcliffe being sent for, for you know I’ve never liked him, nor poor Wally either!’
Chester took her hand, but glanced over his shoulder, addressing himself impartially both to Mary and to the Prince. ‘Too many people in this room,’ he said. ‘Prince, take Miss Cliffe into the dining-room, and give her a whisky-and-soda, will you? See she drinks it, too.’
‘But with the greatest pleasure on earth!’ the Prince said. ‘We have indeed neglected Miss Cliffe, who is all the time so thoughtful for the welfare of others!’
He held open the door for Mary, but instead of permitting her to go with him to the dining-room, he insisted on her sitting down in one of the big leather armchairs that stood in the hall, while he went to mix a drink for her.
He had just brought it to her when Vicky wandered downstairs. ‘Oh, hallo! Bottle party?’ she inquired.
‘Poor Miss Cliffe is exhausted,’ explained the Prince. ‘I am commanded by Dr Chester to give her whisky, and to be sure she drinks it. I warn you, I shall obey my orders, Miss Cliffe, so do not make a face at your whisky! I am here to make myself useful, and this is my first task.’
Mary pressed her hand to her forehead. ‘Vicky, what about dinner?’ she asked. ‘It must be nearly time. I hope Mrs Peake hasn’t taken it into her head that it won’t be wanted.’
‘Ah no, for Peake is even now setting the table!’ the Prince assured her. He smiled at Vicky. ‘Sit down, duchinka: you have had so great a shock! You are pale, my little one; you, too, need Alexis to take care of you, I think.’
‘Not if it means whisky,’ replied Vicky. ‘I’ve already had three cocktails, so I shouldn’t think whisky would agree with me much. Is Maurice here, Mary?’
‘Yes, with your mother.’
‘Oh, good! Perhaps he’ll make her go to bed.’ She turned to the Prince, and said prettily: ‘We’re so sorry this should have happened during your visit, Alexis. I’m afraid you’ll take a perfectly ghoulish memory of Palings away with you tomorrow.’
‘I do not go tomorrow,’ he replied. ‘You do not suppose that I would run from you when you are in such trouble! No, no, while that poor Trudinka has need of me, I stay!’
‘Oh, Alexis, I do think that’s so sweet and sacrificing of you!’ said Vicky. ‘Only, do you feel it’s wise of you?’
‘Wise of me? I do not understand!’
‘I rather suspect that the police will think it’s a bit odd of you. That Inspector asked the most unnerving questions about you, and he’s so dumb that I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he’s cast you for the part of the murderer.’
‘But it is ridiculous!’ exclaimed the Prince. ‘You are joking, surely!’
