voice is? It's apathy really that's the enemy in these cases--
what he wants is to work again--the stimulation of some
brain work. Music is all very well--it's kept him soothed
and able to enjoy life in a mild way. But he's really a man
of great intellectual power--and he misses the mental activity
that was the essence of life to him. Get him started on it
again if you can.'
He nodded encouragingly at her as she looked doubtfully
at him.
'I think, Dr McCulloch,' said Colonel Munro, 'that we
owe you a few explanations of what happened this evening,
even though, as you surmise, the powers-that-be will demand
a hush-hush policy. Lord Altamount's death--' He hesitated.
The bullet didn't actually kill him,' said the doctor, 'diAth
was due to shock. That hypodermic would have done ie
trick--strychnine. The young man--'
'I only just got it away from him in time,' said Horsb.^
'Been the nigger in the woodpile all along?' asked ne doctor.
'Yes--regarded with trust and-affection for over se^n
years. The son of one of Lord Altamount's oldest friend
'It happens. And the lady--in it together, do I understand?'
'Yes. She got the post here by false credentials. She is also
wanted by the police for murder.'
'Murder?'
'Yes. Murder of her husband, Sam Cortman, the Amen a" Ambassador. She shot him on the steps of the Embassy 188
and told a fine tale of young men, masked, attacking him.'
'Why did she have it in for him? Political or personal?'
'He found out about some of her activities, we think.'
Td say he suspected infidelity,' said Horsham. 'Instead
he discovered a hornets' nest of espionage and conspiracy,
and his wife running the show. He didn't know quite how
to deal with it. Nice chap, but slow-thinking--and she
had the sense to act quickly. Wonderful how she registered
grief at the Memorial Service.'
'Memorial--' said Professor Shoreham.
Everyone, slightly startled, turned round to look at him.
'Difficult word to say, memorial--but I mean it. Lisa, you
and I are going to have to start work again.'
'But, Robert--'
'I'm alive again. Ask the doctor if I ought to take things
easy.'
Lisa turned her eyes inquiringly on McCulloch.
'If you do, you'll shorten your life and sink back into
apathy--'
"There you are,* said Shoreham. 'Fashfashion--medical
fashion today. Make everyone, even if they're--at--death's
door--go on working---'
Dr McCulloch laughed and got up.
'Not far wrong. I'll send you some pills along to help.*
'I shan't take them.'
You'll do.'
At the door the doctor paused. 'Just want to know--
how did you get the police along so quickly?'
'Squadron Leader Andrews,' said Munro, 'had it all in
hand. Arrived on the dot. We knew the woman was around
somewhere, but had no idea she was in the house already.'
'Well--4'U be off. Is all you've told me true? Feel I
shall wake up any minute, having dropped off to sleep half
way through the latest thriller. Spies, murders, traitors,
espionage, scientists--'
He went out.
There was a silence.
Professor Shoreham said slowly and carefully;:
'Back to work--'
Lisa said as women have always said;
'You must be careful, Robert--'
'Not--not careful. Time might be short,'
He said again:
S| 'Memorial--'
H 'What do you mean? You said it before.'
E 189
I
'Do I look all right?' asked Stafford Nye nervously, twisting
his head to look in the glass.
He was having a dress rehearsal of his wedding clothes.
'No worse than any other bridegroom,' said Lady Matilda.
They're always nervous. Not like brides who are usually
quite blatantly exultant.'
'Suppose she doesn't come?'
'She'll come.'
'I feel--I feel--rather queer inside.'
"That's because you would have a second helping of pate
de foie gras. You've just got bridegroom's nerves. Don't fuss
so much, Staffy. You'll be all right on the night--.1 mean
you'll be all right when you get to the church--'
'That reminds me--'
'You haven't forgotten to buy the ring?'
'No, no, it's just I forgot to tell you that I've got a present
for you. Aunt Matilda.'
'That's very nice of you, dear boy.'
'You said the organist had gone--' i 'Yes, thank goodness.'
'I've brought you a new organist.'
'Really, Staffy, what an extraordinary idea! Where did you get him?'
'Bavaria--he sings like an angel--'
'We don't need him to sing. He'll have to play the organ.'
| 'He can do that too--he's a very talented musician.'
" 'Why does he want to leave Bavaria and come to England?'
' 'His mother died.'
'Oh dear, that's what happened to our organist. Organists'
(Bothers seem to be very delicate. Will he require mothering?
I'm not very good at it.'
'I dare say some grandmothering or great-grandmothering
would do.'
The door was suddenly flung open and an angelic-looking
child in pale pink pyjamas, powdered with rosebuds, made a
dramatic entrance--and said in dulcet tones as of one expect-
ag a rapturous welcome-- Was me.'
'Sybil, why aren't you in bed?'
Things aren't very pleasant in the nursery--' "That means you've been a naughty girl, and Nannie isn't
Pleased with you. What did you do?'
Sybil looked at the ceiling and began to giggle.
'I': was a caterpillar--a furry one. I put it on her and it
^m down here.'
191
Sybil's finger indicated a spot in the middle of her chest
which in dressmaking parlance is referred to as 'the cleavage.'
*I don't wonder Nannie was cross--ugh,' said Lady Matilda.
Nannie entered at this moment, said that Miss Sybil was
over-excited, wouldn't say her prayers, and wouldn't go to
bed.
Sybil crept to Lady Matilda's side. 'I want to say my prayers with you, Tilda--' 'Very well--but then you go straight to bed.'
Oh yes, Tilda.'
Sybil dropped on her knees, clasped her hands, and uttered
various peculiar noises which seemed to be a necessary
preliminary to approaching the Almighty in prayer. She sighed,
groaned, grunted, gave a final catarrhal snort, and launched
herself:
'Please God bless Daddy and Mummy in Singapore, and
Aunt Tilda, and Uncle Staffy, and Amy and Cook and Ellen,
and Thomas, and all the dogs, and my Pony Grizzle, and
Margaret and Diana my best friends, and Joan, the last of
my friends, and make me a good girl for Jesus' sake. Amen.
And please God make Nannie nice.'
Sybil rose to her feet, exchanged glances with Nannie
with the assurance of having won a victory, said goodnight
and disappeared.
'Someone must have told her about Benvo,' said Lady
Matilda. 'By the way, Staffy, who's going to be your best
&nb
sp; man?'
'Forgot all about it--Have I got to have one?'
i 'It's usual.'
Sir Stafford Nye picked up a small furry animal.
"Panda shall be my best man--please Sybil--please Mry
Ann--And why not? Panda's been in it from the beginnini--
ever since Frankfurt . . .'
Christie, Agatha Paperback
Passenger to Frankfurt.
'ORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
DENNIS
Passenger to Frankfurt Page 22
