A Connoisseur's Case by Michael Innes Read Free Book Online

high road. But, in fact, there can have been little more than a lane. The big road to the north of the house, that’s to say, which runs roughly parallel to the canal, belongs to an altogether later age. And it’s had the effect of squashing the village of Upper Scroop between itself and Scroop House. To the north, the house almost turns into village. No doubt the village nestles in an appropriately humble and protected and overlorded way beneath the house. But the effect of spaciousness and privacy is all on the side of the park – here, that’s to say, to the south.’
    â€˜It’s private enough. As we were saying, this countryside seems absolutely deserted. Not a sign of habitation, population, a trace of the modern world.’
    â€˜You’re wrong there, Judith. Look south.’
    Judith looked south – which was towards what Appleby had called the secondary motor road. All she saw was a momentary glint of light.
    â€˜I think,’ she said, ‘that I saw the sun reflected from the windscreen of a passing car. Right?’
    â€˜Right as far as you go. What you saw was a silver-grey Rolls-Royce Phantom V.’
    â€˜My dear John, it’s terribly vulgar to name cars – particularly astoundingly expensive ones. It’s only done by cheap novelists. You must say: “a very large car”.’
    Appleby received this with hilarity.
    â€˜It isn’t’ – he said – ‘for that matter so very large. There are American cars you could pretty well tuck it into the boot or trunk of. But I agree that it’s in the upper income bracket. Somebody rather comfortably off is frequenting these rural near-solitudes.’
    â€˜Perhaps it’s Mr Bertram Coulson. Perhaps he’s put into a really terrific car the money that should be hiring phalanxes of footmen to relieve Hollywood of the invidious task of answering the front-door bell at improper hours. But what’s the point of getting interested in a passing car, anyway?’
    Appleby shook his head.
    â€˜I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I just don’t know, at all. Let’s walk on.’ He glanced again at the map. ‘We’ll cross the canal by the lock. That’s not very far from what I said might be a wharf on the Scroop House side. There’s probably a track to it along the canal. And then we can take the old road up through the park to the house.’
    â€˜Again we’re not in utter solitude, after all,’ Judith said. ‘But this time it’s not a Rolls. It’s a wayfarer. And actually coming towards us, along the towpath.’
    â€˜Somebody for you to pass the time of day with. Perhaps he can tell us–’ Appleby broke off. ‘Well, I’m blessed!’
    â€˜Whatever is it now?’
    â€˜Didn’t you see the fellow stop?’
    â€˜Of course I saw him stop. What of it? Whoever he is, he’s coming on again now.’
    â€˜Only because he realizes that we’ve seen him. He saw us – and came to a momentary dead halt. Isn’t that odd?’
    â€˜Not in the least.’ Judith said this not wholly confidently. ‘He’s one of those pathologically shy people who would walk round the block rather than encounter their oldest friend. They often take to rambling and birdwatching and so forth. It seems to me, incidentally, that you’re going a shade pathological yourself. Paranoia. Suspecting things.’
    Appleby ignored this.
    â€˜He doesn’t look like a birdwatcher,’ he said. ‘I’d guess that he was the local doctor.’
    â€˜Very well. He’s the local doctor, going his rounds.’
    â€˜But he hasn’t got one of those little bags. And where are the patients? Nothing but cows round about here.’
    â€˜Then perhaps he’s the local vet. Let’s ask him.’
    â€˜I wouldn’t put it beyond you. But I don’t think he’s going to give us much