Paragon Walk Read Online Free PDF

You would be better employed speaking to my brother Diggory. He has some curious tastes. Though I would have expected even he would not infect his sister with them, but I could be mistaken. Perhaps one of his less salubrious friends was in the Walk that night? I assume you will do your best to ascertain precisely who was here?”
    “Of course,” Pitt agreed with equal coolness. “We shall be determining the whereabouts of everyone we can.”
    Afton’s eyebrows rose a little.
    “The residents of the Walk can hardly interest you—the servants perhaps, although I doubt it. I, for one, am most particular about the type of manservant I employ, and I do not allow my women servants to have followers.”
    Pitt felt a twinge of pity for the servants, and the bleak, joyless lives they must lead.
    “A person might be in no way involved,” he pointed out, “and yet possibly have seen something of significance. The smallest observation may help.”
    Afton grunted in irritation that he had not seen the point for himself. He flicked a nonexistent crumb from his sleeve.
    “Well, I was at home that night. I remained in the billiard room most of the evening, with my brother Fulbert. I neither saw nor heard anything.”
    Pitt could not afford to give up so easily. He must not let his dislike of the man show. He had to struggle.
    “Perhaps you noticed something earlier, in the last few weeks—” he began again.
    “If I had noticed such a thing, Inspector, do you not imagine I should have done something about it?” Afton’s heavy nose twitched minutely. “Apart from the unpleasantness for all of us of such a thing happening here, Fanny was my sister!”
    “Of course, sir—but with the perception of hindsight?” Pitt finished the question.
    Afton considered again.
    “Not that I can recollect,” he said carefully. “But if something does occur, I shall inform you. Was there anything else?”
    “Yes, please I would like to speak to the rest of your family.”
    “I think if they had observed anything they would have spoken to me of it,” Afton said with impatience.
    “Nevertheless, I would like to see them,” Pitt persisted.
    Afton stared at him. He was a tall man, and they looked eye to eye. Pitt refused to waver.
    “I suppose it is necessary,” Afton conceded at last, his face sour. “I do not wish to set a bad example. One must consider one’s duty. I would ask you to be as delicate as you are capable with my wife.”
    “Thank you, sir. I shall do my best not to distress her.”
    Phoebe Nash was as different from Jessamyn as possible. If there had ever been fire in her, it long since had been damped. She was dressed in tired black, and there was no artificial color in her pale face. At another time she might have been pleasing enough, but now she looked very much the recently bereaved, eyes a little pink, nose puffed, her hair orderly but far less than elegant.
    She refused to sit, and stood staring at him, holding her hands tightly together.
    “I doubt I can help you, Inspector. I was not even at home that evening. I was visiting an elderly relative who had been unwell. I can give you her name if you wish?”
    “I do not doubt you for a moment, ma’am,” he said, smiling as much as he dared without appearing to show undue levity in the face of death. He felt a nameless, sad pity for her. He wanted to put her at ease and did not know how. She was a sort of woman he did not understand. All her feelings were inward, tightly governed; gentility was everything.
    “I wondered if perhaps Miss Nash might have confided in you,” he began, “being her sister-in-law, if perhaps someone had paid her unwelcome attention, or passed an offensive remark? Even if she had seen a stranger in the neighborhood?” He kept on trying, “Or if you have yourself?”
    Her hands jerked into a knot, and she stared at him, appalled.
    “Oh dear heaven! You don’t imagine he’s still here, do you?”
    He hesitated, wanting to take