Presumption of Guilt
Page 18
“That’s an official secret.”
Young murmured gloomily: “I thought you’d say something like that.” He failed to realise his question had been answered.
*
Sterne drove up to L’Ile Blanche and parked in front of the bronze door. De Matour came out of the house and embraced him with Gallic lack of restraint while the two borzois appeared and barked with enthusiasm. “Belinda’s gone with Evelyn into Chinon to do some shopping, but they should be back soon… And how have things been with you?”
“It’s a long story, but basically I’m a free man.”
“Then we shall open a bottle of champagne to celebrate.” He put his arm round Sterne’s shoulders in a gesture of affection. He felt Sterne flinch. “What is this?”
“I was shot in the shoulder, but I’m virtually OK now.”
“When a man is shot he needs two bottles of champagne, not one.”
They went inside. They had not quite finished the first bottle when a car drew up outside the front door. “Stay here,” said de Matour. “I will send her in.”
Sterne heard Evelyn ask her husband: “Whose car is that, Jean?”
“A visitor’s.”
“Of course it’s a visitor’s. You really can be very annoying. Is it someone for whom I need go upstairs and make myself attractive?”
“You are attractive now, without going anywhere.”
“Something’s happened. You’re talking stupidly and you look like a Cheshire cat?”
“What is special about a Cheshire cat?”
“You pride yourself on being literate and you’ve never read Lewis Carroll? …For goodness sake, who is our caller?”
“He says his name is Angus.”
Sterne heard the sound of running feet and then the door was flung open and Belinda rushed into the room.
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