Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online Page A

said Abby, nodding wisely. 'I expect my old toot would find him an interesting study.'

    'I may be out of date,' said Miss Patterdale, 'but I do not think you ought to call Geoffrey Silloth a toot-whatever a toot may be!'

    'But he is a toot, angel! You are too, and it's someone lamb-like, and altogether a good-thing-and-memorable!'

    'I have never met Mr Silloth, but I know what I look like, and it isn't a lamb. Not at all sure it isn't rather like a goat,' said Miss Patterdale reflectively. 'Not Celia, but Rosalind.'

    This unflattering self-portrait met with such indignant refutation that Miss Patterdale, though maintaining her customary brusque-ness, turned quite pink with pleasure. Another drink was clearly called for by the time her young admirers had, as they hoped, convinced her that she bore no resemblance to a creature it would have been the height of mendacity to have called a pet animal; and Charles got up to mix it. It was as he was handing her glass to Abby that an interruption occurred. The garden-gate was heard to click, and Abby, glancing over her shoulder, saw through the open casement Mavis Warrenby, coming in a stumbling run up the flagged path, one hand pressed to her panting bosom, and her whole appearance betokening extreme agitation.

    'Good lord, what's up?' exclaimed Abby. 'It's Mavis!'

    The front-door of Fox Cottage stood hospitably open, but it was seen that even in emergency Miss Warrenby was not one to burst uninvited into a strange house. A trembling knock was heard, accompanied by a tearful voice uttering Miss Patterdale's name. 'Miss Patterdale! Oh, Miss Patterdale!' it wailed.

    Charles, who was standing by the dresser, with the gin-bottle in his hand, cast a startled and enquiring look at his hostess, and then set the bottle down, and went out into the narrow front passage. 'Hallo!' he said. 'Anything wrong?'

    Mavis, who was leaning in a limp way against the door-post, gasped, and stammered: 'Oh! I didn't -- I don't know what to do! Miss Patterdale -- Oh, I don't know what to do!'

    39 'What's the matter? asked Miss Patterdale, who had by this time joined Charles in the passage. 'Come inside! Good gracious, are you ill, child?'

    'No, no! Oh, it's so awful!' shuddered Mavis.

    'Here, hold up!' said Charles, seeing her wilt against the wall, and putting his arm round her. 'What's so awful?'

    'Bring her into the parlour!' commanded Miss Patterdale. 'Abby, run up and get the sal volatile out of my medicine chest! Now, you sit down, and pull yourself together, Mavis! What has happened?'

    'I ran all the way!' gasped Mavis. 'I shall be all right. I didn't know what to do! I could only think of getting to you! I felt so sick! Oh, Miss Patterdale, I think I am going to be sick!'

    'No, you aren't,' said Miss Patterdale firmly. 'Lay her on the sofa, Charles! Now, you keep quiet, Mavis, and don't try to tell me anything until you've got your breath! I'm not surprised you feel sick, running all the way from Fox House in this heat. That's right, Abby: put a little water in it! Here you are, child! Swallow this, and you'll feel better!'

    Miss Warrenby gulped the dose down, and shuddered, and began to cry.

    'Stop that at once!' said Miss Patterdale, recognizing the signs of hysteria. 'No! It's no use trying to tell me what is wrong while you're sobbing in that silly way: I can't make out a word you're saying. Control yourself!'

    This bracing treatment had its effect. Mavis made a great effort to obey, accepted a proffered handkerchief, and after mopping her face, and giving several gulps, sniffs, and sobs, grew more composed. 'It's Uncle!' she managed to say 'I didn't know what to do: I thought I was going to faint, it's so awful! I could only think of getting to you, Miss Patterdale!'

    'What's he been doing?' demanded Miss Patterdale.

    'Oh, no, no! It isn't that! Oh, poor Uncle! I knew I oughtn't to have left him alone like that! I shall never forgive myself!'

    'Look here!' said Charles, who was