谋杀启事4

III

“Archie,” said Mrs. Easterbrook to her husband, “listen to this.”

Colonel Easterbrook paid no attention, because he was already snortingwith impatience over an article in The Times.

“Trouble with these fellows is,” he said, “that none of them knows thefirst thing about India! Not the first thing!”

“I know, dear, I know.”

“If they did, they wouldn’t write such piffle.”

“Yes, I know. Archie, do listen.

A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, Oc-tober 29th (that’s today), at Little Paddocks at 6:30 p.m.

Friends please accept this, the only intimation.”

She paused triumphantly. Colonel Easterbrook looked at her indulgentlybut without much interest.

“Murder Game,” he said.

“Oh.”

“That’s all it is. Mind you,” he unbent a little, “it can be very good fun ifit’s well done. But it needs good organizing by someone who knows theropes. You draw lots. One person’s the murderer, nobody knows who.

Lights out. Murderer chooses his victim. The victim has to count twentybefore he screams. Then the person who’s chosen to be the detective takescharge. Questions everybody. Where they were, what they were doing,tries to trip the real fellow up. Yes, it’s a good game—if the detective—er—knows something about police work.”

“Like you, Archie. You had all those interesting cases to try in your dis-trict.”

Colonel Easterbrook smiled indulgently and gave his moustache a com-placent twirl.

“Yes, Laura,” he said. “I dare say I could give them a hint or two.”

And he straightened his shoulders.

“Miss Blacklock ought to have asked you to help her in getting the thingup.”

The Colonel snorted.

“Oh, well, she’s got that young cub staying with her. Expect this is hisidea. Nephew or something. Funny idea, though, sticking it in the paper.”

“It was in the Personal Column. We might never have seen it. I supposeit is an invitation, Archie?”

“Funny kind of invitation. I can tell you one thing. They can count meout.”

“Oh, Archie,” Mrs. Easterbrook’s voice rose in a shrill wail.

“Short notice. For all they know I might be busy.”

“But you’re not, are you, darling?” Mrs. Easterbrook lowered her voicepersuasively. “And I do think, Archie, that you really ought to go—just tohelp poor Miss Blacklock out. I’m sure she’s counting on you to make thething a success. I mean, you know so much about police work and proced-ure. The whole thing will fall flat if you don’t go and help to make it a suc-cess. After all, one must be neighbourly.”

Mrs. Easterbrook put her synthetic blonde head on one side and openedher blue eyes very wide.

“Of course, if you put it like that, Laura …” Colonel Easterbrook twirledhis grey moustache again, importantly, and looked with indulgence on hisfluffy little wife. Mrs. Easterbrook was at least thirty years younger thanher husband.

“If you put it like that, Laura,” he said.

“I really do think it’s your duty, Archie,” said Mrs. Easterbrook solemnly.

 

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