The Four of Hearts by Ellery Queen Read Free Book Online Page B

around the corner and bought him a couple. He wouldn’t take Jack’s dough, though.’
    â€˜Curious ethics. And I can’t say Blythe Stuart’s spent a very enjoyable evening, either.’
    â€˜That wacky dame! Sucker for every phony in the fortune-telling racket. She won’t even take a part till she’s read the tea-leaves.’
    Bonnie came stalking back, her face stormy. The Boy Wonder clutched her arm, looking harassed. He was talking earnestly to her; but she paid no attention, tapping the rug with her toe, glancing about. She caught sight of Jack Royle sitting Buddha-like at the bar and took a step forward.
    â€˜Hold it, me proud beauty,’ drawled a voice, and she stopped as if she had stepped on an electric wire.
    A tall young man in evening clothes, surrounded by four beautiful young women, loomed in Alessandro’s doorway. Alessandro looked positively unhappy, Ellery thought.
    â€˜You again?’ said Bonnie with such colossal contempt that, had Ellery been in the young man’s shoes, he would have made for the nearest crack in the wall. ‘You can spare that alcoholic breath of yours. He’s got it coming to him, and he’s going to get it.’
    â€˜If this is going to be a scrap,’ said Ty Royle in a cold voice, ‘how about mixing it with me? I’m closer to your age, and dad’s getting on.’
    Bonnie looked him up and down. ‘At that,’ she said sweetly, ‘he’s a better man than you are. At least he doesn’t flaunt his harem in decent people’s faces.’
    The four young ladies surrounding Ty gasped, and for a moment Ellery thought there would be a general engagement in which the destruction of expensive coiffures would be the least of the damage.
    â€˜Ty. Bonnie,’ said the Boy Wonder hurriedly, stepping between them. ‘Not here, for the love of Mike. Here –’ he glanced about desperately. ‘Queen! What luck. Darling, this is Ellery Queen. Queen – will you?’ and Butcher dragged Ty Royle aside.
    â€˜If Butch thinks I’m going to let that conceited housemaid’s hero,’ said Bonnie, her magnificent eyes smoking, ‘talk me out of giving his father a piece of my mind –’
    â€˜But would it be wise?’ said Ellery hastily. ‘I mean –’
    â€˜Poor mother’s positively ashamed ! Of course, it’s her fault for listening to every charlatan in a Hindu make-up, but a decent person wouldn’t expose her that way in front of all the people she knows. She’s really the dearest, sweetest thing, Mr. Queen. Only she isn’t very practical, and if I didn’t watch her like a nursemaid she’d get into all sorts of trouble. Especially with those detestable Royles just watching for a chance to humiliate her!’
    â€˜Not Tyler Royle, surely? He seems like a nice boy.’
    â€˜Nice! He’s loathsome! Although I’ll admit he doesn’t pester mother – he goes after my hide, and I can handle him. But Jack Royle … Oh, I’m sure mother will cry herself to sleep tonight. I’ll probably be up until dawn putting vinegar compresses on her head.’
    â€˜Then don’t you think,’ said Ellery cunningly, ‘that perhaps you’d better go home now? I mean, after all –’
    â€˜Oh, no,’ said Bonnie fiercely, glaring about. ‘I’ve got some unfinished business, Mr. Queen.’
    Ellery thought with desperation of some diversion. ‘I’m afraid I rather feel like an innocent Christian martyr thrown to a particularly lovely young lioness.’
    â€˜ What? ’ said Bonnie, looking at Ellery really for the first time.
    â€˜I talk that way sometimes,’ said Ellery.
    She stared at him, and then burst out laughing. ‘Where’ve you been , Mr. Queen? That’s the nicest thing I’ve ever been told outside a set. You must be a writer.’
    â€˜I am.