Appleby's Other Story Read Online Free PDF Page A

asked.
    â€˜I’ve never been here before.’ Raffaello produced a relaxed gesture. He was by nature an urbane twister, and his urbanity had been shaken only momentarily by his unexpected encounter with an old adversary. What he would in any case have to tell somebody sooner or later, he had no objection to telling Appleby now. ‘And you’ll want to know whether I came in a professional character. Well, certainly I did. Tytherton wanted to discuss one or two proposals at leisure. And to show me things.’
    â€˜Paintings?’
    â€˜Works of art in general. The collection here isn’t at all remarkable, but it’s worth thinking about, all the same.’
    â€˜From a commercial point of view? Tytherton was what may be called an investor in the fine arts?’
    â€˜My dear Appleby, they’re all that .’ Raffaello’s tone was indulgent. ‘No man in England knows that better than you. Think of all those dukes and marquises with Titians and Holbeins that you’ve hob-nobbed with in your time. Charming and unworldly characters. Removed through centuries of privilege from the base temptations of the market place. But was there ever one of them who didn’t keep an eye on how such things were going?’
    â€˜Some of Tytherton’s pictures went, I gather – and more or less out of the window. I imagine he had given up hope of recovering them. Was he perhaps proposing to make good the gaps by fresh purchases? And was he enlisting you to help him?’
    â€˜It’s a reasonable conjecture, no doubt.’ Raffaello smiled blandly. ‘But matters of that sort are highly confidential, as you know. I could scarcely discuss them without the consent of Tytherton’s heirs and executors.’
    â€˜Even when the manner of Tytherton’s violent death is a matter of police investigation?’
    â€˜Well, well – we shall see about that. The day is still young, after all. By the way, it doesn’t seem to have occurred to you that Tytherton may have wanted to sell something?’
    â€˜To sell something?’ Appleby looked hard at Raffaello. He was wondering whether this question was as meaningless as its casual tone suggested, or whether it somehow represented Raffaello’s vanity in some fashion betraying him. ‘Tytherton was concerned to have a balanced and coherent collection? He sold off second-bests?’
    â€˜Another reasonable conjecture.’ Raffaello stood up and stretched himself lazily in the sun. He appeared to have wholly recovered from the disconcerting apparition Appleby had constituted, and to be addressing himself to enjoying the situation. After all – Appleby thought grimly – he eluded me once. In fact he got the better of me. Why shouldn’t he be confident he’ll do it again?
    â€˜Or he may have been hard up.’ Raffaello said. ‘Many of us are.’
    â€˜One wouldn’t be prompted to such a notion by Elvedon, or by the way the place is maintained.’
    â€˜Perfectly true. But appearances can be deceptive in this sector of society.’ Raffaello again made a sweeping gesture. ‘It’s a fact of which I’ve had a good deal of experience. One learns to look out for the signs.’
    â€˜And what are the signs here?’
    â€˜I see you haven’t met Mrs Graves. Otherwise you’d scarcely ask.’
    â€˜I certainly haven’t met Mrs Graves – or heard of her either.’
    â€˜And what about Carter? Coming to an understanding with him might be quite expensive, if you ask me. Miss Kentwell, of course, is different. A harmless creature, if there ever was one – although as tiresome as they come.’
    â€˜Do I understand that these people constitute a kind of house party at Elvedon?’
    â€˜My dear Appleby, I see you are by no means au courant . Some of them I should call a little more than that. But you will see for yourself. My own advice to