Читать книгу Dead Water - Ngaio Marsh, Stella Duffy - Страница 12

While the Barrimores were engaged in their breakfast discussion, the Rector and Mrs Carstairs were occupied with the same topic. The tone of their conversation was, however, dissimilar.

‘There!’ Mr Carstairs said, smacking The Sun as it lay by his plate. ‘There! Wretched creature! He’s gone and done it!’

‘’T, yes, so he has. I saw. Now for the butcher,’ said Mrs Carstairs who was worrying through the monthly bills.

‘No, Dulcie, but it’s too much. I’m furious,’ said the Rector uncertainly. ‘I’m livid.’

‘Are you? Why? Because of the vulgarity or what? And what,’ Mrs Carstairs continued, ‘does Nankivell mean by saying “2 lbs bst fil.” when we never order fillet let alone best? Stewing steak at the utmost. He must be mad.’

‘It’s not only the vulgarity, Dulcie. It’s the effect on the village.’

‘What effect? And threepence ha’penny is twelve, two, four. It doesn’t even begin to make sense.’

‘It’s not that I don’t rejoice for the boy. I do. I rejoice like anything and remember it in my prayers.’

‘Of course you do,’ said his wife.

‘That’s my whole point. One should be grateful and not jump to conclusions.’

‘I shall speak to Nankivell. What conclusions?’

‘Some ass,’ said the Rector, ‘has put it into the Treherns’ heads that – O dear! – that there’s been a – a –’

‘Miracle?’

‘Don’t! One shouldn’t. It’s not a word to be bandied about. And they are bandying it about, those two.’

‘So much for Nankivell and his rawhide,’ she said, turning to the next bill. ‘No, dear, I’m sure it’s not. All the same it is rather wonderful.’

‘So are all recoveries. Witnesses to God’s mercy, my love.’

‘Were the Treherns drunk?’

‘Yes,’ he said shortly. ‘As owls. The Romans know how to deal with these things. Much more talk and we’ll be in need of a devil’s advocate.’

‘Don’t fuss,’ said Mrs Carstairs, ‘I expect it’ll all simmer down.’

‘I hae me doots,’ her husband darkly rejoined. ‘Yes, Dulcie. I hae me doots.’