鸽群中的猫13

Twelve

NEW LAMPS FOR OLD

IMiss Bulstrode had another faculty¹ which demonstrated her superiority over most other women.

She could listen.

She listened in silence to both Inspector² Kelsey and Adam. She did not so much as raise aneyebrow. Then she uttered one word.

“Remarkable³.”

It’s you who are remarkable, thought Adam, but he did not say so aloud.

“Well,” said Miss Bulstrode, coming as was habitual⁴ to her straight to the point. “What do youwant me to do?”

Inspector Kelsey cleared his throat.

“It’s like this,” he said. “We felt that you ought to be fully⁵ informed—for the sake of theschool.”

Miss Bulstrode nodded.

“Naturally,” she said, “the school is my first concern. It has to be. I am responsible for the careand safety of my pupils—and in a lesser⁶ degree for that of my staff. And I would like to add nowthat if there can be as little publicity⁷ as possible about Miss Springer’s death—the better it will befor me. This is a purely⁸ selfish point of view—though I think my school is important in itself—notonly to me. And I quite realize that if full publicity is necessary for you, then you will have to goahead. But is it?”

“No,” said Inspector Kelsey. “In this case I should say the less publicity the better. The inquestwill be adjourned⁹ and we’ll let it get about that we think it was a local affair. Young thugs—orjuvenile delinquents¹⁰, as we have to call them nowadays—out with guns amongst them, triggerhappy. It’s usually flick¹¹ knives, but some of these boys do get hold of guns. Miss Springersurprised them. They shot her. That’s what I should like to let it go at—then we can get to workquiet-like. Not more than can be helped in the Press. But of course, Meadowbank’s famous. It’snews. And murder at Meadowbank will be hot news.”

“I think I can help you there,” said Miss Bulstrode crisply, “I am not without influence in highplaces.” She smiled and reeled off a few names. These included the Home Secretary, two Pressbarons, a bishop¹² and the Minister of Education. “I’ll do what I can.” She looked at Adam. “Youagree?”

Adam spoke¹³ quickly.

“Yes, indeed. We always like things nice and quiet.”

“Are you continuing to be my gardener?” inquired Miss Bulstrode.

“If you don’t object. It puts me right where I want to be. And I can keep an eye on things.”

This time Miss Bulstrode’s eyebrows¹⁴ did rise.

“I hope you’re not expecting anymore murders?”

“No, no.”

“I’m glad of that. I doubt if any school could survive two murders in one term.”

She turned to Kelsey.

“Have you people finished with the Sports Pavilion? It’s awkward if we can’t use it.”

“We’ve finished with it. Clean as a whistle—from our point of view, I mean. For whateverreason the murder was committed—there’s nothing there now to help us. It’s just a Sports Pavilionwith the usual equipment.”

“Nothing in the girls’ lockers¹⁵?”

Inspector Kelsey smiled.

“Well—this and that—copy of a book—French—called Candide—with—er—illustrations.

Expensive book.”

“Ah,” said Miss Bulstrode. “So that’s where she keeps it! Giselle d’Aubray, I suppose?”

Kelsey’s respect for Miss Bulstrode rose.

“You don’t miss much, M’am,” he said.

“She won’t come to harm with Candide,” said Miss Bulstrode. “It’s a classic. Some forms ofpornography I do confiscate¹⁶. Now I come back to my first question. You have relieved my mindabout the publicity connected with the school. Can the school help you in any way? Can I helpyou?”

“I don’t think so, at the moment. The only thing I can ask is, has anything caused youuneasiness this term? Any incident? Or any person?”

Miss Bulstrode was silent for a moment or two. Then she said slowly:

“The answer, literally¹⁷, is: I don’t know.”

Adam said quickly:

“You’ve got a feeling that something’s wrong?”

“Yes—just that. It’s not definite. I can’t put my finger on any person, or any incident—unless—”

She was silent for a moment, then she said:

“I feel—I felt at the time—that I’d missed something that I ought not to have missed. Let meexplain.”

She recited briefly¹⁸ the little incident of Mrs. Upjohn and the distressing¹⁹ and unexpected arrivalof Lady Veronica.

Adam was interested.

“Let me get this clear, Miss Bulstrode. Mrs. Upjohn, looking out of the window, this frontwindow that gives on the drive, recognized someone. There’s nothing in that. You have over ahundred pupils and nothing is more likely than for Mrs. Upjohn to see some parent or relation thatshe knew. But you are definitely of the opinion that she was astonished to recognize that person—in fact, that it was someone whom she would not have expected to see at Meadowbank?”

“Yes, that was exactly the impression I got.”

“And then through the window looking in the opposite direction you saw one of the pupils’

mothers, in a state of intoxication²⁰, and that completely distracted your mind from what Mrs.

Upjohn was saying?”

Miss Bulstrode nodded.

“She was talking for some minutes?”

“Yes.”

“And when your attention did return to her, she was speaking of espionage²¹, of Intelligence workshe had done in the war before she married?”

“Yes.”

“It might tie up,” said Adam thoughtfully. “Someone she had known in her war days. A parentor relation of one of your pupils, or it could have been a member of your teaching staff.”

“Hardly a member of my staff,” objected Miss Bulstrode.

“It’s possible.”

“We’d better get in touch with Mrs. Upjohn,” said Kelsey. “As soon as possible. You have heraddress, Miss Bulstrode?”

“Of course. But I believe she is abroad at the moment. Wait—I will find out.”

She pressed her desk buzzer²² twice, then went impatiently to the door and called to a girl whowas passing.

“Find Julia Upjohn for me, will you, Paula?”

“Yes, Miss Bulstrode.”

“I’d better go before the girl comes,” Adam said. “It wouldn’t be natural for me to assist in theinquiries the Inspector is making. Ostensibly he’s called me in here to get the lowdown on me.

Having satisfied himself that he’s got nothing on me for the moment, he now tells me to takemyself off.”

“Take yourself off and remember I’ve got my eye on you!” growled²³ Kelsey with a grin.

“By the way,” said Adam, addressing Miss Bulstrode as he paused by the door, “will it be allright with you if I slightly abuse my position here? If I get, shall we say, a little too friendly withsome members of your staff?”

“With which members of my staff?”

“Well—Mademoiselle Blanche, for instance.”

“Mademoiselle Blanche? You think that she—?”

“I think she’s rather bored here.”

“Ah!” Miss Bulstrode looked rather grim. “Perhaps you’re right. Anyone else?”

“I shall have a good try all round,” said Adam cheerfully. “If you should find that some of yourgirls are being rather silly, and slipping off to assignations in the garden, please believe that myintentions are strictly²⁴ sleuthial—if there is such a word.”

“You think the girls are likely to know something?”

“Everybody always knows something,” said Adam, “even if it’s something they don’t knowthey know.”

“You may be right.”

There was a knock on the door, and Miss Bulstrode called—“Come in.”

Julia Upjohn appeared, very much out of breath.

“Come in, Julia.”

Inspector Kelsey growled.

“You can go now, Goodman. Take yourself off and get on with your work.”

“I’ve told you I don’t know a thing about anything,” said Adam sulkily. He went out, muttering“Blooming Gestapo.”

“I’m sorry I’m so out of breath, Miss Bulstrode,” apologized Julia. “I’ve run all the way fromthe tennis courts.”

“That’s quite all right. I just wanted to ask you your mother’s address—that is, where can I getin touch with her?”

“Oh! You’ll have to write to Aunt Isabel. Mother’s abroad.”

“I have your aunt’s address. But I need to get in touch with your mother personally.”

“I don’t see how you can,” said Julia, frowning. “Mother’s gone to Anatolia on a bus.”

“On a bus?” said Miss Bulstrode, taken aback.

Julia nodded vigorously.

“She likes that sort of thing,” she explained. “And of course it’s frightfully cheap. A bituncomfortable, but Mummy doesn’t mind that. Roughly, I should think she’d fetch up in Van inabout three weeks or so.”

“I see—yes. Tell me, Julia, did your mother ever mention to you seeing someone here whomshe’d known in her war service days?”

“No, Miss Bulstrode, I don’t think so. No, I’m sure she didn’t.”

“Your mother did Intelligence work, didn’t she?”

“Oh, yes. Mummy seems to have loved it. Not that it sounds really exciting to me. She neverblew up anything. Or got caught by the Gestapo. Or had her toenails pulled out. Or anything likethat. She worked in Switzerland, I think—or was it Portugal?”

Julia added apologetically: “One gets rather bored with all that old war stuff; and I’m afraid Idon’t always listen properly.”

“Well, thank you, Julia. That’s all.”

“Really!” said Miss Bulstrode, when Julia had departed. “Gone to Anatolia on a bus! The childsaid it exactly as though she were saying her mother had taken a 73 bus to Marshall andSnelgrove’s.”

II

Jennifer walked away from the tennis courts rather moodily²⁵, swishing her racquet. The amount ofdouble faults she had served this morning depressed²⁶ her. Not, of course, that you could get a hardserve with this racquet, anyway. But she seemed to have lost control of her service lately. Herbackhand, however, had definitely improved. Springer’s coaching had been helpful. In many waysit was a pity that Springer was dead.

Jennifer took tennis very seriously. It was one of the things she thought about.

“Excuse me—”

Jennifer looked up, startled. A well-dressed woman with golden hair, carrying a long flat parcel,was standing²⁷ a few feet away from her on the path. Jennifer wondered why on earth she hadn’tseen the woman coming along towards her before. It did not occur to her that the woman mighthave been hidden behind a tree or in the rhododendron bushes and just stepped out of them. Suchan idea would not have occurred to Jennifer, since why should a woman hide behindrhododendron bushes and suddenly step out of them?

Speaking with a slightly American accent the woman said, “I wonder if you could tell me whereI could find a girl called”—she consulted a piece of paper—“Jennifer Sutcliffe.”

Jennifer was surprised.

“I’m Jennifer Sutcliffe.”

“Why! How ridiculous! That is a coincidence. That in a big school like this I should be lookingfor one girl and I should happen upon the girl herself to ask. And they say things like that don’thappen.”

“I suppose they do happen sometimes,” said Jennifer, uninterested.

“I was coming down to lunch today with some friends down here,” went on the woman, “and ata cocktail²⁸ party yesterday I happened to mention I was coming, and your aunt—or was it yourgodmother?—I’ve got such a terrible memory. She told me her name and I’ve forgotten that too.

But anyway, she said could I possibly call here and leave a new tennis racquet for you. She saidyou had been asking for one.”

Jennifer’s face lit up. It seemed like a miracle, nothing less.

“It must have been my godmother, Mrs. Campbell. I call her Aunt Gina. It wouldn’t have beenAunt Rosamond. She never gives me anything but a mingy ten shillings at Christmas.”

“Yes, I remember now. That was the name. Campbell.”

The parcel was held out. Jennifer took it eagerly. It was quite loosely wrapped. Jennifer utteredan exclamation²⁹ of pleasure as the racquet emerged from its coverings.

“Oh, it’s smashing!” she exclaimed. “A really good one. I’ve been longing³⁰ for a new racquet—you can’t play decently if you haven’t got a decent racquet.”

“Why I guess that’s so.”

“Thank you very much for bringing it,” said Jennifer gratefully.

“It was really no trouble. Only I confess I felt a little shy. Schools always make me feel shy. Somany girls. Oh, by the way, I was asked to bring back your old racquet with me.”

She picked up the racquet Jennifer had dropped.

“Your aunt—no—godmother—said she would have it restrung. It needs it badly, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t think that it’s really worthwhile,” said Jennifer, but without paying much attention.

She was still experimenting with the swing and balance of her new treasure.

“But an extra racquet is always useful,” said her new friend. “Oh dear,” she glanced at herwatch. “It is much later than I thought. I must run.”

“Have you—do you want a taxi? I could telephone—”

“No, thank you, dear. My car is right by the gate. I left it there so that I shouldn’t have to turn ina narrow space. Good-bye. So pleased to have met you. I hope you enjoy the racquet.”

She literally ran along the path towards the gate. Jennifer called after her once more. “Thankyou very much.”

Then, gloating, she went in search of Julia.

“Look,” she flourished the racquet dramatically.

“I say! Where did you get that?”

“My godmother sent it to me. Aunt Gina. She’s not my aunt, but I call her that. She’s frightfullyrich. I expect Mummy told her about me grumbling³¹ about my racquet. It is smashing, isn’t it? Imust remember to write and thank her.”

“I should hope so!” said Julia virtuously³².

“Well, you know how one does forget things sometimes. Even things you really mean to do.

Look, Shaista,” she added as the latter girl came towards them. “I’ve got a new racquet. Isn’t it abeauty?”

“It must have been very expensive,” said Shaista, scanning it respectfully. “I wish I could playtennis well.”

“You always run into the ball.”

“I never seem to know where the ball is going to come,” said Shaista vaguely³³. “Before I gohome, I must have some really good shorts made in London. Or a tennis dress like the Americanchampion Ruth Allen wears. I think that is very smart. Perhaps I will have both,” she smiled inpleasurable anticipation³⁴.

“Shaista never thinks of anything except things to wear,” said Julia scornfully as the two friendspassed on. “Do you think we shall ever be like that?”

“I suppose so,” said Jennifer gloomily. “It will be an awful bore.”

They entered the Sports Pavilion, now officially vacated by the police, and Jennifer put herracquet carefully into her press.

“Isn’t it lovely?” she said, stroking it affectionately.

“What have you done with the old one?”

“Oh, she took it.”

“Who?”

“The woman who brought this. She’d met Aunt Gina at a cocktail party, and Aunt Gina askedher to bring me this as she was coming down here today, and Aunt Gina said to bring up my oldone and she’d have it restrung.”

“Oh, I see … ” But Julia was frowning.

“What did Bully³⁵ want with you?” asked Jennifer.

“Bully? Oh, nothing really. Just Mummy’s address. But she hasn’t got one because she’s on abus. In Turkey somewhere. Jennifer—look here. Your racquet didn’t need restringing.”

“Oh, it did, Julia. It was like a sponge.”

“I know. But it’s my racquet really. I mean, we exchanged. It was my racquet that neededrestringing. Yours, the one I’ve got now, was restrung. You said yourself your mother had had itrestrung before you went abroad.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Jennifer looked a little startled. “Oh well, I suppose this woman—whoevershe was—I ought to have asked her name, but I was so entranced—just saw that it neededrestringing.”

“But you said that she said that it was your Aunt Gina who had said it needed restringing. Andyour Aunt Gina couldn’t have thought it needed restringing if it didn’t.”

“Oh, well—” Jennifer looked impatient. “I suppose—I suppose—”

“You suppose what?”

“Perhaps Aunt Gina just thought that if I wanted a new racquet, it was because the old onewanted restringing. Anyway what does it matter?”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter,” said Julia slowly. “But I do think it’s odd, Jennifer. It’s like—likenew lamps for old. Aladdin, you know.”

Jennifer giggled³⁶.

“Fancy rubbing my old racquet—your old racquet, I mean, and having a genie³⁷ appear! If yourubbed a lamp and a genie did appear, what would you ask him for, Julia?”

“Lots of things,” breathed Julia ecstatically. “A tape recorder, and an Alsatian—or perhaps aGreat Dane, and a hundred thousand pounds, and a black satin party frock, and oh! lots of otherthings … What would you?”

“I don’t really know,” said Jennifer. “Now I’ve got this smashing new racquet, I don’t reallywant anything else.”

 

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