In other words, Constance was up to her old games again. She had not rung me to give me Chaice’s message, nor had she told Chaice the time of my train. She had rung me purely and simply to ask my help in whatever muddle, matrimonial or otherwise, it was in which she was finding herself. And that, as Shakespeare says, craved wary walking.
That early Friday afternoon found me in the train, a copy of Kensington Gore in my pocket for a quick review and a whiling away of those eighteen, mostly suburban, miles. One thing I had not done. I had not mentioned to my wife that I was spending a day or two at Beechingford. Women, even in my limited judgment, can put the queerest constructions on the most trivial events, and Constance’s name had long been taboo. In fact I told myself that I should be back in town on the Tuesday morning at the latest, and there would be no need to mention the weekend at all. That was how I worked things guilefully out. Just how far I was wrong you will very shortly see.
Published by Dean Street Press 2018
Copyright © 1945 Christopher Bush
Introduction copyright © 2018 Curtis Evans
All Rights Reserved
The right of Christopher Bush to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by his estate in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published in 1945 by Cassell & Co.
Cover by DSP
ISBN 978 1 912574 24 7
www.deanstreetpress.co.uk
The Case of the Corporal's Leave: A Ludovic Travers Mystery Page 25
