Anne Belinda by Patricia Wentworth Read Free Book Online Page B

am much interested to learn that you are old friends.”
    â€œYes, I was most awfully pleased to see him again.”
    John began to feel a sense of anticipation; the conversation was the conversation he had had about Anne Belinda.
    â€œWell, Sir John, Lewis’ account of that conversation has given me a good deal of concern. You were, I gather, anxious to know the whereabouts of a certain person, and—er—well, I want to ask you to let the matter alone.”
    John was silent for a moment. A quick, hot anger prompted him to speech, and he would not speak until he had got the better of it.
    â€œCan you tell me why?”
    â€œWell—not in detail. I can merely assure you that your inquiries are unnecessary.”
    â€œWhen you say unnecessary, Mr. Carruthers, what exactly do you mean? I am making inquiries because I feel uneasy. The person we are speaking of was, to the best of my belief, left entirely unprovided for. When you say that my inquiries are unnecessary, do you mean that there is any provision which I don’t know about?”
    â€œNo, not exactly.”
    â€œThen, will you tell me what you do mean?”
    He tried, rather unsuccessfully, to keep an aggressive note out of his voice. He thought he detected a shade of reproof in the lawyer’s reply:
    â€œIt’s a little difficult to explain a very delicate matter in a conversation of this kind. May I, however, remind you that the lady has nearer relations than yourself?”
    â€œPossibly,” said John. “The question is, are they doing anything? Are they, for instance, making her an allowance? Can you assure me, of your own knowledge, that she is receiving an allowance from them?”
    â€œSir John, this is very difficult.”
    John took a pull on himself. He was putting the old man’s back up, and that was a fool’s trick. He spoke with a complete change of tone.
    â€œI don’t want to seem intrusive, or anything of that sort. I thought, if there was no provision, that a charge might be made on the estate.”
    â€œI see. It’s very generous of you. I don’t know quite what to say. I could make the offer on your behalf; but I don’t think it is at all likely that it would be accepted. Perhaps you will come and see me when I get back.”
    John set his jaw. A month’s delay! He said, in a voice full of protest:
    â€œWhy can’t I meet my cousin? Where is she?”
    He heard Mr. Carruthers cough.
    â€œI’m afraid”—more coughing—“I’m afraid that’s impossible. But there is another lady who is most anxious to make your acquaintance, Lewis tells me—Mrs. Courtney. She has a flat in Queen’s Gate—I’m afraid I forget the number. Lewis met her this afternoon, and she expressed a very strong desire to see you—told him, in fact, that he was to send you to call on her. She’s rather an imperious lady, but extremely charming, and a connection of the family.”
    â€œThanks, I’ll go and see her—Yes, another three minutes, please—Mr. Carruthers, is my cousin ill?”
    â€œNot that I know of.”
    â€œIs she abroad?”
    â€œI really can’t say.”
    â€œDo you know where she is?”
    There was rather a long pause. Then Mr. Carruthers said slowly:
    â€œYes—I know.”
    â€œYou do know?”
    â€œYes.” And with that the line went dead.
    John stood for a moment with the receiver in his hand. Then he hung it up and left the box.
    At the other end of the line Mr. Carruthers had already rung off. He turned in his chair and showed a disturbed face to his nephew.
    â€œRather a difficult young man, Sir John Waveney,” he said.
    Lewis looked up from The Times .
    â€œWhat’s he being difficult about?”
    â€œHe wants Anne Waveney’s address.”
    â€œYes, I told you he wanted it. Is there any real reason why he shouldn’t have