police should find. A pretty mix up; and there was more, the bait of Paul Hardingâs address: The Lees, Guildford.
Marjorie had kept her head well; too well?
Mannering went thoughtfully back to Chelsea.
Judy let him in, and said that Lorna was still in the studio. Mannering went whistling up the rickety stairs. Lorna glanced round at him, and Mannering felt her glow of satisfaction; all dark thoughts and brooding had been swept away by her work. Larraby had gone â but Larraby was there, on canvas. Mannering stood looking at the portrait, while Lorna wiped her hands on an oily rag.
âWell, well,â Mannering mumured.
âDo you like it?â
âItâs perfect.â
âItâs only half-finished, but it ought to be all right.â
âItâs got him, body and soul,â said Mannering. He went a little closer, and then drew back. âMind, body and soul,â he amended. âHas he seen it yet?â
âNo. I sent him out to get some lunch and told him to be back at half past two.â
âYouâre going to work yourself to death,â said Mannering, as she went to the wash-basin to wash her hands. âJudyâs complaining that lunch is getting cold.â
âIâm almost ready.â Lorna took off her paint-daubed smock. âIâll have to sign that with a diamond!â She laughed. âI wouldnât have missed Larraby for the world.â
They went downstairs. Judy brought in a chicken en casserole, and started to serve.
âWeâll manage,â said Mannering.
âVery good, sir.â The girl went out, trim, prim, tiny.
Lorna said: âJohn, what a selfish beast I can be.â
âYou said it.â
âHow have you been getting on?â
âOh, uncovering an odd murder or so.â
âOnly or so?â
âJust one, to be exact.â
She put down her fork.
âYou almost sound serious.â
Mannering talked, leaving nothing out. Before he had finished, the chicken was cool on their plates. Judy looked in, and bobbed out again. They finished the course in silence, and Judy brought in canned raspberries and cream.
âYouâre fated,â Lorna said at last. âFingerprints?â
âNot mine. Bristow may fancy that Iâd seen the body before, thatâs the only danger.â
âI hope it is.â Lorna finished her sweet, slowly. Then she threw up her hands. âIsnât it wonderful? Two beauties to protect now, plus a young man. I can see it working out very well, darling. The police are watching you. Youâre keeping something back from them for the sake of a pair of pretty blue eyes. Before you know where you are, youâll be fighting Bristow openly. Why must it always work out like this?â
âThe spice of life,â murmured Mannering.
âThe vinegar. You wonât go too far without telling Bristow, will you?â
âI will not.â
âI donât believe you. What happened to the note from Bray?â
âItâs still in my pocket.â
âHow nice! Supposing Bristow had the bright idea of coming here with a search warrant?â
âThe letter isnât addressed to anyone at Lander Street,â Mannering pointed out. âBray came here several times and was due here last night, so thereâs no reason why he shouldnât have sent me a confirming note. Iâm not a bit sure that itâs any use as evidence.â
âThere may be prints on it.â
âIâll soon find out,â said Mannering.
After a pause, Lorna said: âThere are times when I understand why Tring hates you so, darling.â
Mannering chuckled. âOur Tankerâs having a wow of a time. Coffee?â
Â
Larraby was back on the stroke of half past two.
âCome up when I call, will you?â Lorna went ahead to brood for a few moments, then throw a piece of cloth over the unfinished canvas until Larraby had
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