Here Lies Gloria Mundy

Anthony, coming into the room, said firmly, ‘As I tried to tell you, he’s a ravening lion where she’s concerned. He risked a lot to marry her, you know. She stood trial for killing her former husband and only got off by the skin of her teeth. Surely you remember the case, Corin? Her name then was Maria Pinzón Campville. Coberley was called as a prosecution witness (most unwillingly, of course) and he married her as soon as the case was over. He threw up a lucrative job and bought the school just to get her away from all the publicity. He told me the story last Christmas when I’d got him nicely sozzled, but it’s old hat now.’

‘And did she do it?’ I asked. ‘Kill her husband, I mean?’

‘Quíen sabe? There were nine men on the jury, and you know how beautiful she is.’

‘At least one of the three women must have voted for an acquittal, though,’ I said, ‘and probably carried the other two with her. There are always women who think a man deserves everything he gets, so perhaps these ladies of the jury approved of the murder. The war between the sexes waxes fiercely in these days of women’s emancipation and the competition for top jobs, I suppose.’

‘I’ve got a bone to pick with you,’ said Hara-kiri after we had gone through my notes and alterations.

‘With me? But you said you liked what I’d done with the brochures.’

‘I’m not talking about the brochures. Do you remember my mentioning Gloria Mundy when we last met?’

‘Yes, of course I remember.’

‘And I gave you an impression of what I thought of her?’

‘Unfavourable, on the whole, as I remember it.’

‘Well, I think you might have told me she was staying in the house when you relayed old Anthony’s invitation.’

‘But she isn’t staying here. She breezed in all unexpectedly and had to be asked to stay for lunch. You were probably on your way here by the time she turned up, so I couldn’t have let you know, even if I had thought of it. Anyway, there is no question of her staying here. She didn’t even stay long enough to finish her lunch. One of the other guests splashed soup all over her, so she upped and went.’

‘I spotted her in the kitchen garden after I had left my car.’

‘Well, she won’t be coming back, that’s for sure.’

‘You never know. I hope you’re right, that’s all. How long are you staying here?’

‘Only until Thursday. Don’t worry. I shall be on to the rest of the brochures in just a day or so.’

‘That is not what I meant. How did Wotton react when Gloria showed up?’

‘I wasn’t present at their meeting. I was up here.’

‘I wonder what she was after?’

‘Wanted a free lunch, perhaps,’ I said. ‘I don’t think she looks any more robust than when you knew her. Did you see her again while you were in the grounds with Wotton?’

‘No. She can’t have been up to any good coming here, Corin. Was there a hint of Auld Lang Syne, would you say?’

‘Honestly, Hardie, I have no idea.’

‘Up to no good at all,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘As for me, I’m going to sprinkle salt all round my bed tonight.’

‘Don’t tell me you’re as superstitious as that!’ I said.

He scowled at me, ‘That damn girl spells trouble. You mark my words,’ he muttered angrily. ‘I cut and ran as soon as I spotted that red and black hair above the bushes. I only saw the top of her head, but nobody can mistake her.’

5

Chapter of Accidents

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I had no idea what time it was when Roland and Kay left the house. McMaster and I were still upstairs, working on the brochures. The front door was round a corner and so out of sight of my window, but, in any case, I had no time to look out of it. McMaster had wanted one or two additions to the brochures and there was enough to do to keep us busy until almost teatime.

It had been getting darker all the afternoon, so, by the time we went downstairs, I had had the electric light on for the past hour. The full force of the storm struck the house just as we reached the hall.

We heard afterwards that it was the worst storm for ten years. The sky blackened, the windows rattled, doors thought to be shut flew open, the wind shrieked and tore at the trees and bushes, and then the rain came down and deluged the paths and the lawn.

I have never experienced such rain. It blotted out everything as though the house were surrounded by thick fog. The others all fled to their rooms to make certain that the windows were closed, while Anthony, Celia and the servants made the rest of the rounds. A skylight which had been left open was allowing a spate of water to cascade down the back stairs and for more than five minutes it resisted all attempts to close it.

The cook reported that water was coming in under the back door and part of the guttering gave up the struggle, so that water fell in fountains down one of the outside walls.

‘You shouldn’t have let that witch-girl in,’ pronounced Aunt Eglantine, during the first lull in the storm before its devils’ chorus broke out again. ‘She’s doing all this.’

‘You shouldn’t have chucked your bread into her soup,’ said William Underedge severely. ‘I’m afraid you are a very naughty old lady.“