Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online Page B

becoming bored with Mavis's exclamatory and obscure style of narrative. 'Just what has happened to your uncle?'

    She turned dilating eyes towards him. 'I think -- I think he's dead!' she said, shuddering.

    'Dead?' Charles repeated incredulously. 'Do you mean he's had a stroke, or something?'

    She began to cry again. 'No, no, no! It's much, much more dreadful. He's been shot!'

    'Good God!' said Charles blankly. 'But --'

    'For heaven's sake, girl!' interrupted Miss Patterdale. 'You say you think he's dead. Surely you didn't come here, leaving the unfortunate man alone, without making certain there was nothing you could do for him?'

    Mavis covered her face with her hands. 'I -- I know he's dead. I thought he was asleep, and it seemed so unlike him, somehow. I went up to him, and then I saw!'

    'You saw what?' said Miss Patterdale, as Mavis broke off. 'Try to pull yourself together!'

    'Yes. I'm sorry. It's been such a shock. In the side of his head -- -just here --' she pressed her left temple -- 'a -- hole! Oh, don't ask me! And I heard it! I didn't think anything about it at the time. I was just getting over the stile at the top of the lane, and I heard a gun fired. It made me jump, because it sounded quite close, but of course I only thought it was somebody shooting rabbits. And then I opened the garden-gate, and saw Uncle on the seat under the oak-tree ...'

    'Gosh!' uttered Abby, awed. 'Who did it? Did you see anyone?' Mavis shook her head, wiping her eyes. 'No one hiding in the garden? Round the back? If you were in the lane they couldn't have escaped that way, could they?'

    Mavis looked at her in a bemused fashion. 'I don't know. I was so shocked I never thought of anything but that poor Uncle was dead.'

    'But didn't you even look? insisted Abby. 'I mean, it had only just happened, and whoever did it can't possibly have managed to get away! Well, not far away, at all events!'

    'No, I suppose -- But I didn't think about that! I only thought of Uncle.'

    'Yes, well, all right!' said Charles. 'I suppose that's fairly natural, but when you realized he was dead what did you do?'

    She pushed her rather lank hair back from her brow. 'I don't know. I think I was sort of stunned for a few minutes. It seemed so impossible! My legs were shaking so that I could hardly stand, and I felt so sick! I managed to get to the house, and I'm afraid I was sick'

    'Yes, That's not what I mean,' said Charles, trying not to speak impatiently. 'Have you rung up the police?' the doctor?'

    She blinked. 'No -- oh, no! I knew it was no use sending for the doctor. I didn't think about the police. Oh, need we do that? It seems to make it worse, somehow. I mean, Uncle would have hated it! Having an inquest, and everyone talking about it!'

    'Merciful heavens!' ejaculated Miss Patterdale. 'Have you no sense, Mavis? You know very well I'm not on the telephone, and you come running here before ever you've -- now, don't, for goodness' sake begin to cry again! Charles, where are you going?'

    'Fox House, of course. I'll ring up the police-station from there, and stand by till they arrive.'

    'Yes, that's the best thing,' she approved. 'I'll come with you.'

    'Better not, Aunt Miriam.'

    'Nonsense! There may be something we can do for the poor man. You don't imagine I mean to be sick, do you?'

    'Oh, Aunt Miriam, couldn't / go with Charles?' begged Abby. 'I know all about First Aid, and --'

    'Certainly not!. You'll stay here and look after Mavis.'

    'I can't -- I mean, you'd do it much better! Do let me be the one to go with Charles!' Abby said, following them down the garden.

    'Absolutely not' said Charles, in a voice that admitted of no argument. 'Hop in, Aunt Miriam!'

    He slammed the car-door on Miss Patterdale, got into his own seat, and started the engine. As the car shot forward, he said: 'Of all the damned, silly wet hens, that girl takes the biscuit! A child in arms would have had sense enough to have rung the police! Blithering idiot! I