Why Shoot a Butler by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online Page A

"Though according to her things were fairly all right till the old man died. She swears it's something to do with the manor. Of course, the truth is she doesn't like the place, so she's got it into her head there's something wrong with it. Then, on top of that, there's Collins."
    "Yes, I'm rather interested in Collins," said Amberley. "Were he and Dawson the only survivors from the old regime?"
    "Oh Lord, no! Practically the whole staff's the same. There's a housekeeper who's been there since the year dot, and the cook, and a couple of gardeners, and a whole bevy of skivvies — I don't know about them, by the way. They may have changed since old Fountain kicked the bucket. But the hardy perennials all stayed put. You see, Brother Basil was no stranger to 'em. Old jasper seems to have been very fond of him; always having him down to stay. So they all knew him and seem to have liked him. I tell you, there's no data at all."
    "I begin to think there's something in what the sergeant said," remarked Amberley. "Queer case. Nice little holiday problem."
    "Well, if you want a Watson, don't forget me, will you?" said Corkran. "And talking of Watson, do you remember Freddy Holmes? Chap with freckles in the Army Class?"
    "In Merrill's House? Yes, what about him?"
    "I'll tell you," said Corkran, drawing his chair closer.
    The conversation ceased from that moment to have any bearing on the murder, but became frankly an interchange of school reminiscences. It lasted for an hour and might have lasted for three had not Corkran chanced to catch sight of the clock. He then fled, having promised to fetch his betrothed from a tea party at least half an hour earlier.
    Amberley followed in a more leisurely fashion and drove his Bentley into Upper Nettlefold to buy tobacco on his way home. When he came out of the shop he found that his car was not unattended. A dark, wildlooking boy in grey flannel trousers, a polo sweater and a tweed coat was leaning against it, solemnly staring at the switches on the dashboard. He wore no hat, and a lock of black hair strayed artlessly across his forehead.
    Amberley paused outside the shop and began slowly to fill a pipe, his eyes resting thoughtfully on the dark young man.
    The youth continued to lean heavily.
    "Anything I can do for you?" Amberley inquired.
    The dishevelled head was turned. "Nobody," said the youth simply, "need do any - anything for me."
    "That's good. Mind if I remove the car?"
    The youth disregarded this. "D'you know what I've been doing?"
    "Yes," said Amberley frankly.
    "I've been - I - have - been having - tea with - with a fellow," announced the youth.
    "Strong tea. I should go home now if I were you." 'Thash - what I was going to do," said the youth. "He's a fellow I met - th'other day. He's a nice fellow. I don' care what anyone says, he's a nishe — a nice fellow. Shirley - Shirley doesn't like him. What I shay - say is bloody snob'ry. Thash what I say."
    Mr. Amberley's expression changed from contemptuous amusement to sudden interest. "Shirley," he repeated.
    "Thash right," nodded the youth. He looked hazily at Amberley, yet with a certain cunning in his face. "She's my sister."
    "If you get into my car I'll return you to her," said Amberley.
    The youth's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" he demanded. "I'm not going to - to tell you anything. See?"
    "All right," Amberley said peaceably and managed to thrust him into the car.
    He was not an easy passenger. While he babbled aimlessly all went well, but when he had switched off the engine for the second time Amberley came near to losing his temper.
    Mark cringed a little before the wrath in his face and wanted to get out. He seemed to become obsessed all at once with the idea that he was being kidnapped. It was with considerable difficulty that Amberley succeeded in allaying his fears, and then he began to talk about the murder. Very little of what he said made sense, nor did Amberley press him to be more explicit. He said several times