Читать книгу Inspector Alleyn 3-Book Collection 3: Death in a White Tie, Overture to Death, Death at the Bar - Ngaio Marsh, Stella Duffy - Страница 19

STRANGE FATALITY

Lord Robert Gospell dies

after Ball

Full Story

Donald Potter read the four headlines over and over again. From the centre of the page his uncle’s face twinkled at him. Donald’s cigarette-butt burnt his lips. He spat it into his empty cup, and lit another. He was shivering as if he had a rigor. He read the four lines again. In the next room somebody yawned horribly.

Donald’s head jerked back.

‘Wits!’ he said. ‘Wits! Come here!’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Come here!’

Captain Withers, clad in an orange silk dressing-gown, appeared in the doorway. ‘What the hell’s the matter with you?’ he enquired. ‘Look here.’

Captain Withers, whistling between his teeth, strolled up and looked over Donald’s shoulder. His whistling stopped. He reached out his hand, took the newspaper, and began to read. Donald watched him.

‘Dead!’ said Donald. ‘Uncle Bunch! Dead!’

Withers glanced at him and returned to the paper. Presently he began again to whistle through his teeth.