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 18

‘BUNCHY’ GOSPELL DEAD

Mysterious death in Taxi

Sequel to the Carrados Ball

Mrs Halcut-Hackett’s beautifully manicured hands closed like claws on the newspaper. Her lips were stretched in a smile that emphasized the carefully suppressed lines from her nostrils to the corners of her mouth. She stared at nothing.

General Halcut-Hackett’s dressing-room door was flung open and the General, wearing a dressing-gown but few teeth, marched into the room. He carried a copy of a ten o’clock sporting edition.

‘What!’ he shouted indistinctly. ‘See here! By God!’

‘I know,’ said Mrs Halcut-Hackett. ‘Sad, isn’t it?’

‘Sad! Bloody outrage! What!’

‘Shocking,’ said Mrs Halcut-Hackett.

‘Shocking!’ echoed the General. ‘Preposterous!’ and the explosive consonants pronounced through the gap in his teeth blew his moustache out like a banner. His bloodshot eyes goggled at his wife. He pointed a stubby forefinger at her.

‘He said he’d bring you home,’ he spluttered.

‘He didn’t do so.’

‘When did you come home?’

‘I didn’t notice. Late.’

‘Alone?’

Her face was white but she looked steadily at him. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Don’t be a fool.’