The Finishing Stroke by Ellery Queen Read Free Book Online Page A

of the old school. Ellery had heard of him through Inspector Queen, who liked to brag that he knew every lawyer in New York. Payn was an extremely cautious, shrewd attorney who, like a gilt-edged stock, attracted only the most conservative clientele. For all his distinguished appearance and pear-shaped tones, he rarely argued a case in court. The bulk of his practice was will and estate work.
    â€˜Now that Messrs Payn and Freeman are here,’ John announced. ‘I’m ready to let you all in on the first two of the four cosmic events I mentioned. Mr. Payn, speaking as the Craig family lawyer, how does my status change as of January sixth?’
    â€˜That date marking your twenty-fifth birthday,’ the white-haired attorney said, smiling, ‘by the terms of the last will of your father, John Sebastian Senior, you come into the principal estate, which has been held in trust for you since Nineteen Five. I’m sure John won’t mind my remarking that this will make him a very well-cushioned young man indeed.’
    â€˜And insufferable, of course,’ Ellen Craig said, squeezing John’s arm. ‘Imagine John a millionaire!’
    â€˜Sickening, ain’t it?’ John grinned. ‘And now, Mr. Freeman. Speaking in your professional capacity, what happens on January sixth that I should know?’
    The publisher flushed as all eyes went to him. ‘An event of far greater moment, I’m sure, than the mere acquisition of a fortune. On January sixth The House of Freeman is publishing the first book of verse of a promising young poet – The Food of Love , by John Sebastian.’
    Everyone shouted. Rusty cried, ‘John, how wonderful! And you never breathed a word to me. Did you know, Mr. Craig?’
    Craig’s beard waggled. ‘You don’t think anyone could deprive me of the pleasure of doing John’s maiden book, Rusty! But Dan and I are a couple of old Trappists.’ Craig affectionately pawed the publisher’s slender shoulder. ‘We know how to keep our mouths shut.’
    â€˜John, I’m so happy for you,’ Valentina murmured. ‘Congratulations.’ And she pulled his head down and kissed him.
    Rusty Brown smiled.
    â€˜I’ll take some of that!’ Ellen said gaily, and somehow she managed to get between Valentina and John and, after kissing him, to stay there.
    John’s ears were red. ‘I wanted it to be a surprise. Isn’t it tremendous? I’m still pinching myself.’
    â€˜And it will sell exactly four hundred and fifty-nine copies,’ Marius said, waving his empty glass like a baton, ‘and get a smasher of a review from The Journal of Veterinary Medicine.’
    But his grating voice was lost in the hubbub; and by the time the last guest had arrived, Marius was tightly asleep in his chair.
    The man whose modest valise Felton carried in from the Peerless was a spare old fellow of great vigour, with barely silvered black hair, childlike blue eyes, a big Yankee nose, and a clerical collar. Arthur Craig introduced him as the Reverend Mr. Andrew Gardiner, recently retired from his Episcopal rectorate in New York. He was actually a friend of the Browns’; Olivette Brown had been a communicant of his church for many years, and he had baptized and confirmed Rusty.
    The instant she laid eyes on the old clergyman Valentina Warren grew silent. She curled up on the arm of sleeping Marius Carlo’s chair, ruffling his black hair lightly. Her violet glance went often to Rusty’s face. She did not look at John at all.
    Ellery had been watching her. He murmured to Ellen Craig, ‘What goes on in that direction, Ellen?’
    â€˜Do I look like the counterspy type?’ Ellen murmured back. ‘You’ll have to draw your own conclusions, Mr. See-It-All. I gather you do that very well.’
    â€˜I conclude a triangle.’
    â€˜I’m not helping you with your maths, Mr. Queen.’
    â€˜You