Appleby's Other Story by Michael Innes Page A

startled by being accosted by the Chief Constable’s companion he gave no sign of it.
    â€˜It’s quiet now,’ he said, ‘and that’s why I came here. But you wait. The reporters are on their way now, aren’t they? And this is where they’ll put up.’
    â€˜I don’t doubt it, Mr Catmull. And you’ll have hard work keeping them out of Elvedon itself.’
    â€˜That’s a true word. Mere trippers too there’ll be, once the radio and the telly and the evening papers have come out with it. No lack of drinkers in the Hanged Man tonight.’ Catmull paused. ‘Queer that you and the Colonel should come asking for Mr Tytherton like that.’
    â€˜An odd coincidence, certainly.’
    â€˜Hadn’t been at Elvedon before, I think?’
    â€˜Never. Colonel Pride was to introduce me to your late employer. I have an idea that Mr Tytherton wanted to have a talk about the pictures he lost a couple of years ago.’
    â€˜Ah, now that goes with what Mrs Catmull says!’ Catmull was momentarily looking at Appleby through narrowed eyes. ‘Interesting, that is.’
    â€˜And what does Mrs Catmull say? I don’t quite follow you.’
    â€˜â€œWhy, that’s him that was in my book,” she said. When I told her your name not an hour ago, sir. “That’s him I read about,” Mrs Catmull said. But by a book she doesn’t of course mean a book. Mrs Catmull isn’t highly educated. She calls a magazine a book, sir – like most women do.’ Catmull seemed here to touch on a misogynistic note. ‘Intending, you see, that she’d read about Sir John Appleby as one going after thieved pictures, and the like.’
    â€˜It was certainly an interest of mine at one time, Mr Catmull.’
    â€˜Well, here are you coming to talk to Mr Tytherton about such things today, and here is Mr Tytherton getting himself shot dead last night. If you ask me, it deserves thinking about, that does.’ Catmull paused. ‘That Mr Raffaello, now. Never been to Elvedon before in my time, he hasn’t. And he’s another one, it seems, that has to do with pictures and statues and the like. Snoops around them, too, in a way I don’t half like. Peering into places, like a guest who is anything of a gentleman shouldn’t. An eye should be kept on him, to my mind. Given his marching orders, he ought to be.’ Catmull’s tone had suddenly turned almost vicious. ‘But who’s to do that? Who does the bloody place belong to now. I’d like to know? But those in service aren’t told such things. Mrs Tytherton, she’ll go off now with you know who to France. And Mrs Catmull and me – well, a month’s wages handed us by a lawyer, it’s likely to be – and my good man pack your bag.’
    â€˜I have no doubt that Mrs Catmull and yourself would readily find a suitably superior new situation.’ Appleby had listened to the butler’s sudden outburst with some curiosity. ‘But it seems possible that young Mr Tytherton, who is said to have returned to England, may propose to keep up Elvedon in the same style as his father.’
    â€˜Back in England – him?’ If Catmull wasn’t genuinely startled, Appleby thought, he was an uncommonly good actor. ‘Much good he’ll do us.’ He stared morosely into what was now evidently an empty tankard. ‘In fact, damn all.’
    â€˜Would you care for another pint, Mr Catmull?’
    â€˜Well, sir, I don’t mind if I do.’ Catmull’s glance as he said this didn’t match with his casual tone. There was a curious hint of masked calculation in it. He is a man – Appleby told himself as he took both tankards to the bar – thoroughly pleased with his own cunning.
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    But when he returned with the beer there was surely nothing but stupidity on Catmull’s face as he doggedly pursued his aggrieved