The Clairvoyant Countess Read Online Free PDF Page A

Francine would mind.” He rose and walked stiffly to a file cabinet in the corner and drew out a small glossy photograph. “Francine gave me this, it’s a shipboard photograph taken at their wedding on the way home. I don’t think Carl Madison ever knew she gave it to me, so I’ve tactfully kept it tucked away.” He handed over the picture.
    Pruden looked at the three people in the photograph: they made a handsome portrait of a sun-tanned, carefree family. He said, “Do you mind if I borrow this for a few days? I’ll have copies made and return it to you.”
    Johnson looked vaguely unhappy. “Look, you understand emotions get involved here. I hope I’ve not implied, not suggested—I’m a churchgoing man, Lieutenant.”
    Pruden told him gently, “On the contrary, you’ve suggested nothing that hadn’t already been suggested to me, and I can’t tell you how helpful you’ve been.”
    “Certainly not in helping you solve Alison’s brutal murder!”
    “That,” said Pruden, buttoning up his trench coat, “is for me to find out.”

Chapter 4
    It was nine o’clock and Madame Karitska threw open the shutters of her living room to inhale the morning air with delight. “A gorgeous day!” she exclaimed.
    Behind her Kristan said, “You can’t pay your rent and it’s a gorgeous day?”
    “Give me a few hours,” she said, turning to him. “I promise I shall have it—I feel it.”
    Her young landlord considered this a moment, his bearded face troubled. “You understand I am at this minute so poor myself I couldn’t pay rent if I hadn’t leased the building. As an artist—”
    She nodded. “But of course, I would not for the world ask you to wait for money that belongs to you. If something does not turn up I shall sell my last diamond for you.”
    “Diamond?”
    She shrugged. “Yes, my second husband was a diamond merchant in Antwerp and I have managed to keep a few. Now only one is left, small but very fine. It is my security.”
    “Well, that’s a relief,” her young landlord said doubtfully, “because I’d hate to see you go. Hey, your phone’s ringing, Madame Karitska.”
    She smiled magnificently. “Yes it is, isn’t that miraculous? In spite of the bill being unpaid?”
    She answered the telephone in a confident voice. The woman on the other end of the line was apologetic and pleading. A charity tea at her town house was taking place that afternoon, in her garden, and would it be possible for Madame Karitska to replace the fortuneteller they’d hired to amuse the guests? Her niece, an art student, had visited Madame Karitska several weeks earlier and had said fine things about her. She would happily pay Madame Karitska seventy-five dollars for her two hours of work, and possibly there might be some tips.
    Madame Karitska pretended to consult her engagement calendar. “But yes,” she said with surprise and delight, “yes, I am free for those hours. How fortunate for us both!”
    The woman gave the address, which was in the very elegant Cavendish Square area, and Madame Karitska promised to be there at two o’clock.
    Her young landlord looked at her curiously. ‘You look like a cat that’s just swallowed a canary,” he told her.
    “I am to be fortuneteller at a charity tea this afternoon. Seventy-five dollars!”
    Kristan grinned. “Do you always get rescued like this?”
    “Ah, my dear Kristan,” she said lightly, “begin by living as if you had faith, and you will see!”
    He said wryly, “I doubt if it would work for me, I swear too much.”
    “Then try swearing
less
much,” she said tartly. “Now do go and let me begin my meditating, and if you hear anyone at my door between two and four tell them I shall be back!”
    At fifteen minutes before the hour Madame Karitska presented herself at the magnificent brownstone house to which she had been directed. She was at first mistaken for a guest of Mrs. Faber-Jones but once this matter had been cleared up she was sent to the