A Murder Is Announced

‘Better not ask. Her methods are probably strictly illegal.’

‘And your lovely brooch.’ Miss Bunner looked down proudly at her bosom on which was pinned a small diamond leaf.

‘Do you like it? I’m glad. I never cared for jewellery.’

‘I love it.’

‘Good. Let’s go and feed the ducks.’

***

‘Ha,’ cried Patrick dramatically, as the party took their places round the dining-room table. ‘What do I see before me?Delicious Death.’

‘Hush,’ said Miss Blacklock. ‘Don’t let Mitzi hear you. She objects to your name for her cake very much.’

‘Nevertheless, Delicious Death it is! Is it Bunny’s birthday cake?’

‘Yes, it is,’ said Miss Bunner. ‘I really am having the most wonderful birthday.’

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and had been ever since Colonel Easterbrook had handed her a small box of sweets and declaimed with a bow, ‘Sweets to the Sweet!’

Julia had turned her head away hurriedly, and had been frowned at by Miss Blacklock.

Full justice was done to the good things on the tea table and they rose from their seats after a round of crackers.

‘I feel slightly sick,’ said Julia. ‘It’s that cake. I remember I felt just the same last time.’

‘It’s worth it,’ said Patrick.

‘These foreigners certainly understand confectionery,’ said Miss Hinchcliffe. ‘What they can’t make is a plain boiled pudding.’

Everybody was respectfully silent, though it seemed to be hovering on Patrick’s lips to ask if anyone reallywanted a plain boiled pudding.

‘Got a new gardener?’ asked Miss Hinchcliffe of Miss Blacklock as they returned to the drawing-room.

‘No, why?’

‘Saw a man snooping round the henhouse. Quite a decent-looking Army type.’

‘Oh,that,’ said Julia. ‘That’s our detective.’

Mrs Easterbrook dropped her handbag.

‘Detective?’ she exclaimed. ‘But-but-why?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Julia. ‘He prowls about and keeps an eye on the house. He’s protecting Aunt Letty, I suppose.’

‘Absolute nonsense,’ said Miss Blacklock. ‘I can protect myself, thank you.’

‘But surely it’s all over now,’ cried Mrs Easterbrook. ‘Though I meant to ask you, why did they adjourn the inquest?’

‘Police aren’t satisfied,’ said her husband. ‘That’s what that means.’

‘But aren’t satisfied of what?’

Colonel Easterbrook shook his head with the air of a man who could say a good deal more if he chose. Edmund Swettenham, who disliked the Colonel, said, ‘The truth of it is, we’re all under suspicion.’

‘But suspicion ofwhat?’ repeated Mrs Easterbrook.

‘Never mind, kitten,’ said her husband.

‘Loitering with intent,’ said Edmund. ‘The intent being to commit murder upon the first opportunity.’

‘Oh, don’t, please don’t, Mr Swettenham.’ Dora Bunner began to cry. ‘I’m sure nobody here could possibly want to kill dear, dear Letty.’

There was a moment of horrible embarrassment. Edmund turned scarlet, murmured, ‘Just a joke.’ Phillipa suggested in a high clear voice that they might listen to the six o’clock news and the suggestion was received with enthusiastic assent.

Patrick murmured to Julia: ‘We need Mrs Harmon here. She’d be sure to say in that high clear voice of hers, “But I suppose somebodyis still waiting for a good chance to murder you, Miss Blacklock?”’

‘I’m glad she and that old Miss Marple couldn’t come,’ said Julia. ‘That old woman is the prying kind. And a mind like a sink, I should think. Real Victorian type.’

Listening to the news led easily into a pleasant discussion on the horrors of atomic warfare. Colonel Easterbrook said that the real menace to civilization was undoubtedly Russia, and Edmund said that he had several charming Russian friends-which announcement was coldly received.

The party broke up with renewed thanks to the hostess.

‘Enjoy yourself, Bunny?’ asked Miss Blacklock, as the last guest was sped.

‘Oh, I did. But I’ve got a terrible headache. It’s the excitement, I think.’

‘It’s the cake,’ said Patrick. ‘I feel a bit liverish myself. And you’ve been nibbling chocolates all the morning.’

‘I’ll go and lie down, I think,’ said Miss Bunner. ‘I’ll take a couple of aspirins and try and have a nice sleep.’

‘That would be a very good plan,’ said Miss Blacklock.

Miss Bunner departed upstairs.

‘Shall I shut up the ducks for you, Aunt Letty?’

Miss Blacklock looked at Patrick severely.

‘If you’ll be sure to latch that door properly.’

‘I will. I swear I will.’

‘Have a glass of sherry, Aunt Letty,’ said Julia.

‘As my old nurse used to say, “It will settle your stomach.” A revolting phrase, but curiously apposite at this moment.’

‘Well, I dare say it might be a good thing. The truth is one isn’t used to rich things. Oh, Bunny, how you made me jump. What is it?’

‘I can’t find my aspirin,’ said Miss Bunner disconsolately.

‘Well, take some of mine, dear, they’re by my bed.’

‘There’s a bottle on my dressing-table,’ said Phillipa.

‘Thank you-thank you very much. If I can’t find mine-but I know I’ve got itsomewhere. A new bottle. Now where could I have put it?’

‘There’s heaps in the bathroom,’ said Julia impatiently. ‘This house is chock full of aspirin.’