Death at Hallows End by Leo Bruce Read Free Book Online Page A

but I listened to him. Scandal-wise we don’t hear much in these parts.”
    â€œWhat did he tell you?”
    â€œA lot, really, up to the old man’s death. Then he never said another word. In fact he hasn’t been in since. Seems Grossiter was rich and had never made a will. His only son died recently,so unless he did something about it these Neasts would get the lot. The old man had never seen them till he came over here to find out what he thought of them.”
    â€œAnd what did he think?”
    â€œNot much, we gathered. Now you tell me about this solicitor it all falls into place. Pretty ug, isn’t it?”
    â€œNot necessarily. Humby may turn up. His disappearance may be nothing to do with the Neasts or Grossiter.”
    â€œExtraw, though. Coincidence-wise that would be absolutely incred to me.”
    â€œDo you know the Neasts?”
    â€œBy sight, of course. Haven’t seen them to speak to since I was a boy. Old man sent me to Repton, then I was at the university for a couple of years.”
    â€œOx or Camb?” asked Carolus, infected by the landlord’s habit of abbreviation.
    â€œLondon, as a matter of fact. Then I bought this place about three years ago. But the Neasts never come here. In fact they’re very little seen about. Invis, you might say. Never enter a pub. Do their own housework. Go to market over at Cashford every Monday. Otherwise keep to themselves.”
    â€œThey must employ someone on their farm.”
    â€œThey had two men. But that’s another death we’ve had. Old Harold Rudd died a few days before Grossiter. He was buried on the Saturday.”
    â€œOh, and what did
he
die of?”
    â€œOverwork, I should think. He was in the hospital two miles from here. Swanwick Hospital. He was about seventy. So death-wise we’ve been pretty biz.”
    â€œI didn’t know anything about that. The Neasts have another man?”
    â€œYes. Joel Stonegate. Has a cottage just down the road here. Looked after by his daughter.”
    â€œDoes he come here?”
    â€œNot often at lunchtime. But he’s in the public bar most evenings. The police went to see him the day before yesterday.”
    â€œWhat for?”
    â€œBecause he’s the only one who saw that chap in the car, so far as anyone knows. It appears that Stonegate felt ill that afternoon and left his work about four o’clock. As he was cycling down the Church Lane that leads from Monk’s Farm to the village he saw this car by the side of the road. He says the man in it was asleep. You can ask him about it tonight, if you like. He’ll talk about it for hours if you let him. He’s told the police and the press, so I’m sure he’ll tell you. We don’t get much happening round here sensation-wise.”
    â€œYou said just now the Neasts go to market at Cashford on Mondays. That’s an unusual day for a market, isn’t it?”
    â€œTradish,” said the landlord. “Cashford Market’s been held on Monday for centuries, I believe. Yes, they usually go.”
    â€œDo you know if they went that Monday?”
    â€œI seem to remember Joel Stonegate saying so, but I can’t be cert. I’m not too hot, memory-wise. But you can ask him yourself this evening.”
    â€œThanks. I will.”
    â€œTake it you’re CID?” said the landlord.
    Carolus reflected that this was the first time anyone had made that mistake.
    â€œNo,” he said. “But I’ve been asked by his partner to try to find Duncan Humby, the man who has disappeared. That’s what has brought me here.”
    â€œSort of private investigator?”
    â€œSomething like that. What can you do about some lunch?”
    â€œWell, we’re pretty slack at this time of year. I’m afraid there’s not a fire in the Tudor Dining Hall. But food-wise we’re allright if you like to have it here by the fire. Fact the wife said