later. So she fits the bill all right.'
'That only tells us there is a Baroness of that name, a widow, somewhere in the world; it doesn't prove the woman who arrived here tonight is she - only that she's got the same Christian name as her. There's no doubt she's the girl, is there - the one you were telling me about?'
'None at all. I asked Mummy. They got engaged in France in 1917.'
'You couldn't get the whole story, I suppose?'
'Not tonight. I'll worm it out of somebody sooner or later, though.'
'Of course,' Jane said, 'we don't know he's still in love with her now. There was nothing in his behaviour tonight to suggest it.'
'Not publicly, anyway.'
'Still.' Jane went to the door. 'It's immaterial to me either way. As I told you, there can never be anything between Richard and me.'
'Of course not. All the same, you are concerned for his happiness, aren't you - purely as a platonic friend? You don't want him deceived by a beautiful femme fatale?'
'I think he can take care of himself.'
'I'm going to watch her like a hawk, all the same.'
'You won't be the only one, Gerry. Good night.'
Jane returned to her room and went to bed. She turned the light out immediately, but it was a long time before she got to sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Double Deadlock
On Saturday morning it was hotter than ever. But now the heat was sultry and there was a threat of thunder in the air; it was not weather for outdoor exercise and the tennis courts remained unoccupied and the horses unsaddled.
Anilese de la Roche slept late. After a light breakfast of coffee and rolls in her bedroom, she came down at ten o'clock. She then made a telephone call, after which she sought out Lady Burford.
'I am told my motor car will not be ready until Monday or Tuesday,' she said.
Lady Burford brightened. An unescorted titled lady, vouched for not only by her brother-in-law, but also by the Darnleys, was a godsend and just what she needed to balance the house party and eliminate the Thirteen to Dinner problem. 'Then of course you will stay here,' she said decidedly.
'You are too kind. But I can easily hire a car. Or go on by train.'
Lady Burford brushed aside these suggestions and it was arranged that the Baroness should remain until Monday at least. She went to telephone Lady Darnley.
* * *
'Peabody,' said Lord Burford, 'you mentioned in your last letter that you'd picked up something rather special in Rome, and you were looking forward to showing it to me.'
'That's right, Earl. I sure did.'
'Well, how about it? Or have you decided it's not quite as special as you first thought?'
'Not at all, sir. I consider it to be one of the most important purchases I have made for a long time.'
'Well, don't sit on it, man. Let's have a look.'
'Very well, I'll get it now.'
'Take it along to the collection room, will you? You haven't quite seen all my stuff yet. I've got one more piece, actually, that I think you'll appreciate.'
Peabody cast him a surprised glance. 'Oh, have you? OK, then. I'll see you up there in a few minutes.'
He bustled off. Lord Burford chuckled and rubbed his hands. Gerry, who had recently finished a session on the telephone, was sitting nearby, rather a faraway expression in her eyes. Lord Burford got to his feet, bent down near her and said: 'I knew what the blighter was up to: trying to keep his own piece till last - wait till he'd seen everything of mine, then produce this new thing of his and trump me. I was up to him, though. He'll have a job to outshine my piece de résistance.' He toddled off.
But Gerry was miles away.
* * *
Peabody entered the sitting-room of the Royal Suite, where his wife was writing a letter. 'Do you know what that old sooner's done, honey? He deliberately didn't let me see everything yesterday. He kept one really good piece back, just |o as to have something to top me. I'll show the shyster, though. He'll have a job to cap what I've got in here.'
* * *
He went through the connecting door to the dressing
'That only tells us there is a Baroness of that name, a widow, somewhere in the world; it doesn't prove the woman who arrived here tonight is she - only that she's got the same Christian name as her. There's no doubt she's the girl, is there - the one you were telling me about?'
'None at all. I asked Mummy. They got engaged in France in 1917.'
'You couldn't get the whole story, I suppose?'
'Not tonight. I'll worm it out of somebody sooner or later, though.'
'Of course,' Jane said, 'we don't know he's still in love with her now. There was nothing in his behaviour tonight to suggest it.'
'Not publicly, anyway.'
'Still.' Jane went to the door. 'It's immaterial to me either way. As I told you, there can never be anything between Richard and me.'
'Of course not. All the same, you are concerned for his happiness, aren't you - purely as a platonic friend? You don't want him deceived by a beautiful femme fatale?'
'I think he can take care of himself.'
'I'm going to watch her like a hawk, all the same.'
'You won't be the only one, Gerry. Good night.'
Jane returned to her room and went to bed. She turned the light out immediately, but it was a long time before she got to sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Double Deadlock
On Saturday morning it was hotter than ever. But now the heat was sultry and there was a threat of thunder in the air; it was not weather for outdoor exercise and the tennis courts remained unoccupied and the horses unsaddled.
Anilese de la Roche slept late. After a light breakfast of coffee and rolls in her bedroom, she came down at ten o'clock. She then made a telephone call, after which she sought out Lady Burford.
'I am told my motor car will not be ready until Monday or Tuesday,' she said.
Lady Burford brightened. An unescorted titled lady, vouched for not only by her brother-in-law, but also by the Darnleys, was a godsend and just what she needed to balance the house party and eliminate the Thirteen to Dinner problem. 'Then of course you will stay here,' she said decidedly.
'You are too kind. But I can easily hire a car. Or go on by train.'
Lady Burford brushed aside these suggestions and it was arranged that the Baroness should remain until Monday at least. She went to telephone Lady Darnley.
* * *
'Peabody,' said Lord Burford, 'you mentioned in your last letter that you'd picked up something rather special in Rome, and you were looking forward to showing it to me.'
'That's right, Earl. I sure did.'
'Well, how about it? Or have you decided it's not quite as special as you first thought?'
'Not at all, sir. I consider it to be one of the most important purchases I have made for a long time.'
'Well, don't sit on it, man. Let's have a look.'
'Very well, I'll get it now.'
'Take it along to the collection room, will you? You haven't quite seen all my stuff yet. I've got one more piece, actually, that I think you'll appreciate.'
Peabody cast him a surprised glance. 'Oh, have you? OK, then. I'll see you up there in a few minutes.'
He bustled off. Lord Burford chuckled and rubbed his hands. Gerry, who had recently finished a session on the telephone, was sitting nearby, rather a faraway expression in her eyes. Lord Burford got to his feet, bent down near her and said: 'I knew what the blighter was up to: trying to keep his own piece till last - wait till he'd seen everything of mine, then produce this new thing of his and trump me. I was up to him, though. He'll have a job to outshine my piece de résistance.' He toddled off.
But Gerry was miles away.
* * *
Peabody entered the sitting-room of the Royal Suite, where his wife was writing a letter. 'Do you know what that old sooner's done, honey? He deliberately didn't let me see everything yesterday. He kept one really good piece back, just |o as to have something to top me. I'll show the shyster, though. He'll have a job to cap what I've got in here.'
* * *
He went through the connecting door to the dressing
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