Hue and Cry by Patricia Wentworth Read Free Book Online Page A

Sir George’s bust, she saw them vanish one by one, leaving her in semi-darkness, with all the light there was coming from above.
    At the top of the stairs she stood for a moment looking along a rather dim corridor. The door of the telephone room was ajar. Light streamed out of it, and just as she was wondering who could be telephoning at this hour, Mr. Paul Craddock opened the door wide and stood there looking at her.
    Mally was friends with all the world to-night. She beamed at Paul and said:
    â€œHow late you are! I’m so glad some one else is late besides me. I’ve had such a frightfully lovely time.”
    He switched off the light and opened the door of the next room.
    â€œCome in and have a sandwich and tell me about it. There ought to be coffee and sandwiches here.”
    Mally hesitated. She knew very well that she ought to go to bed. If you are a governess you don’t eat sandwiches with strange secretaries at two in the morning.
    She sniffed the coffee and was lost. There was a lovely fire too, and the room had crimson curtains and looked so warm after the marble staircase. Before she could make a good resolution she was eating a sandwich and telling Paul Craddock about Tanga Miranda and her pearls.
    Paul Craddock listened with an amusement which began to pass into interest. He had had a very dull evening, and he found Mally stimulating. He had asked her to share his sandwiches on an impulse born partly of boredom, and partly of something else.
    â€œI must go,” said Mally, finishing her coffee. “I don’t want to, but I must. I hate going to bed after a party—don’t you? I would have liked this evening to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on.”
    Paul Craddock smiled. He put down his cup and got up, all rather slowly and lazily.
    â€œWell,” he said, “why not let it go on a bit longer?”
    Mally got up too.
    â€œNo, it’s got to stop. I’m really Cinderella, you know, and it’s hours past twelve.”
    â€œOnly two hours. There’s no hurry. Since you’re so fond of dancing, when will you come and dance with me? Or”—he smiled a little more—“does Mooring not allow it?”
    Mally stuck her nose in the air. She knew very well that she ought not to stay. But she stayed—to put Mr. Paul Craddock in his place.
    â€œHow sudden of you!” she said. “Really, Mr. Craddock, I think you’re the suddenest person I ever met. This afternoon, when I came into the study, you wouldn’t even see me, and now— l’invitation à la valse .” She made him a little bob curtesy. “Sir, your most obliged.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” He was leaning over the back of the chair from which he had risen.
    â€œIt’s a very polite way of saying ‘No.’”
    â€œAnd why ‘No’?”
    â€œBecause—Oh, has Mrs. Craddock found her diamond?”
    â€œNo, she hasn’t. Why won’t you dance with me?”
    â€œBecause I won’t, Mr. Craddock. Good-night.”
    Paul stepped back and leaned against the door this time.
    â€œThen Mooring does want all the dances? Selfish fellow!”
    â€œMr. Craddock, I want to go upstairs.”
    â€œAll in good time. What are you afraid of? That he’ll break my head—or the engagement?”
    â€œWill you let me pass, Mr. Craddock?”
    Paul Craddock laughed.
    â€œI think you’ll have to pay toll, Mally.”
    Mally walked straight up to him with her eyes like green fire.
    â€œLet me pass at once! I’ll scream if you don’t.”
    â€œThen I must stop your mouth,” said Mr. Craddock, still laughing; and as he laughed, he caught her by the shoulders and bent to kiss her.
    Mally ducked. Mr. Craddock exclaimed. The kiss grazed the top of her head, which she instantly jerked upward, causing him to bite his tongue. He swore, felt a vicious pinch on the inside of his raised arm, and,