The Affair of the Mutilated Mink Read Online Free PDF

people.'
    'My, that's a tall order.'
    Lord Burford meanwhile had plucked at Sebastian's elbow. 'Come across here and let me pour you something.'
    'What? Oh. Right. Jolly good.' He followed the Earl across to a sideboard where drinks were laid out. 'What'll you have?'
    'Oh.' Sebastian frowned. 'Don't know, really.'
    'Sherry?'
    'Jolly good.'
    Lord Burford poured and handed Sebastian a glass.
    'Cheers.'
    'Oh, yes, rather.'
    They drank. There was a pause. Lord Burford cleared his throat. 'Chilly today.'
    'Oh, rather.'
    'Good drive down?'
    'Jolly good.'
    'Capital.' There was another silence. The Earl said, 'Er, I keep a few sheep.'
    'Really? Oh, jolly good.' Sebastian peered out through the window, as though expecting to see them dotted about the lawn.
    'Oh, not personally, of course. At the home farm. Have a good man running it. Must admit I find 'em rather irritatin' creatures. No offence, I hope?'
    'No, no, not at all.'
    'Always getting lost in the snow or caught in hedges, lambing at the most inconvenient time of the year. No doubt you feel quite different about 'em.'
    'Well, I - I haven't given it a lot of thought, actually.'
    'Really? You surprise me. I imagined it would be unavoidable.'
    'No, never found it necessary. Partial - partial to the odd chop, don't you know. And useful for insomnia, eh, eh?'
    'Countin' them jumping over a fence, you mean? Even that doesn't work with me. They always refuse to jump. Not that I'm often troubled by sleeplessness. Clear conscience, I suppose. How many thousand you got?'
    The nearest thing so far to animation or surprise came over Sebastian's face. 'How - how - how many thousands?'
    'Just roughly.'
    'Oh.' He stared at his sherry glass. 'Don't know, really.'
    'But you must count your stock sometimes.'
    'Count? No. I get statements from the bank and my jolly old accountant keeps tabs on my position.'
    Lord Burford's eye bulged. 'Your accountant counts your sheep for you?'
    Sebastian blinked. 'Oh, no. Thought you meant money. I don't own any sheep.'
    You don't? You mean you ain't a sheep farmer?'
    'Oh, no. Not at all. Never. Sorry.' He smiled.
    'Great Scott! I could have sworn . . .' He turned and raised his voice a little. 'Lavinia, you said Sebastian here was a sheep farmer. He's nothin' of the sort.'
    Cecily said gently, 'Oh, I'm sorry. I should have explained. It was Philip, my first husband, who was the sheep farmer. He died many years ago. Sebastian's not even an Australian. He was just visiting when we met. But then he decided to stay on.'
    The entry of Gerry at that moment caused a welcome diversion. After introductions she said, 'Well, I suppose you know all about our expected VIP guest?'
    'No, dear,' Cecily said. 'Who's that?'
    'The great Rex Ransom, no less.'
    'The film star? Really? How exciting. Did you hear that, Sebastian?'
    'Oh, rather. Jolly good. When - when's he expected to arrive?'
    'The train should be getting in to Alderley Halt in about five minutes. Hawkins has gone to meet it in the Rolls. Actually, there's quite a party of film people coming, isn't there, Daddy?'
    Lord Burford nodded happily. 'Biggest thing to happen at Alderley since Queen Victoria stayed here in 1852.'
    'Jolly good,' said Sebastian.
     
    * * *
     
    By the time Hugh reached Alderley village at about eleven-thirty and started on the final stage to the house he was stiff with cold. This last part of the journey did nothing to improve his mood. The estate was surrounded by a positive network of narrow lanes, and like all of them the one he had to follow wound irritatingly, several times approaching to within a mile of the house, which could be clearly glimpsed through the trees. Then the lane would suddenly turn away, without apparent reason, on another long detour.
    Hugh's mind was filled with thoughts of blazing fires and hot coffee, and as bend followed bend he became more and more frustrated and began to push his machine ever faster.
    At last he reached the final bend before the straight stretch