Furious Old Women Read Online Free PDF

earnest.
    â€œI daresay you’ve been through a lot,” said Carolus sympathetically, “but I’m afraid you’ll have a good deal more unless you tell the truth. Why don’t you?”
    â€œThere’s nothing,” blurted out Naomi between her sobs. “I’ve told you all I know.”
    â€œAll right,” said Carolus. “Have it your own way. Only if you decide to be sensible get hold of me or the police at once. Don’t tell anyone else you’re going to tell the truth. Really. You can phone me at the number I’m writing down or go to the police. But for heaven’s sake don’t hesitate.”
    Carolus saw her staring fixedly at him through tearful eyes. But she asked no question and in a moment went still sobbing from the room.
    â€œI
knew
it would be a beastly case,” he reflected.
    A few minutes later Mrs Bobbin came into the room.
    â€œYou’ve made the girl cry,” she said.
    â€œI’m afraid shell cry a good deal more before the case is over unless she decides to speak the truth. She knows something which she is determined not to reveal.”
    â€œBut why?”
    â€œI don’t know. I shall in time. And she lies.”
    â€œWhat about?”
    â€œI wanted to know what she did between 2.30 when your sister Flora left for Burley and 3.30 when, she says, she started out for home.”
    â€œWhat does she say she did?”
    â€œForgot to clean the hall in the morning. Remembered it and did it. Your sister Millicent meanwhile was sleeping in the drawing-room.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with that?”
    â€œA woman doesn’t
forget
to do the principal room of a house. And if by some freak she did she wouldn’t spend an hour on it when it was time for her to go home.”
    â€œBut the hall was done that day, very thoroughly. I remember noticing the smell of furniture polish when I came in. I congratulated Naomi on it next morning before we knew anything about Millicent. She said ‘Yes, I did it last thing before going home’. So it doesn’t sound as though she was lying at all.”
    â€œThen she told me she got on quite well with your sister Millicent though she never had much to do with her. After what you told me yesterday I knew that wasn’t true.”
    â€œWell, she certainly did not get on with Milly as well as with Flora and me but then few people did. She probably did see less of her than of us.”
    â€œThese are not perhaps very important. But I know that girl is hiding something and if you have anyinfluence with her I hope you’ll use it to persuade her to tell the truth.”
    â€œYou’re very sure of yourself, Mr Deene.”
    â€œWhen do you think I could meet your sister, Miss Flora?” asked Carolus.
    â€œTomorrow or the next time you come. She’s not up to it today. It has been a severe shock to her.”
    â€œI quite understand. I have plenty of work to do. Tell me, how was your sister dressed when she was found?”
    Mrs Bobbin looked at Carolus sharply.
    â€œExactly the clothes she was wearing when Flora left except for her fur coat.”
    â€œWhat about shoes?”
    â€œOh, she had changed those, of course. She had on a strong pair of walking shoes.”
    â€œShe did not wear galoshes, of any sort? You must forgive my being old-fashioned enough to call them galoshes.”
    â€œShe did, yes.”
    â€œAlways, in winter?”
    â€œNearly always.”
    â€œAnd she wasn’t wearing them?”
    â€œNo. Not that day. It was dry.”
    â€œAre they still in her room?”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    â€œMay I see them?”
    â€œIf Naomi hasn’t gone.” She went to the door. “Naomi!” she called rather stridently.
    When the girl appeared Carolus saw that she had repaired her face and was looking more self-confident.
    â€œNaomi,” said Mrs Bobbin, “where are Miss Millicent’s rubber