The Devil's Cook Read Online Free PDF

Jay?”
    But Jay and Farley had moved off down the hall. Fanny trailed after them. They paused again at the head of the stairs.
    â€œWe were inquiring about Terry,” Jay told her. “We thought they might have seen her, or might know where she went.”
    â€œHasn’t she come home yet?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHow odd. I wonder where she could be.”
    â€œIt’s not so odd, really. It isn’t even particularly unusual. I keep telling everyone.”
    â€œWell, in my opinion, it is odd. I consider it most unlikely that Terry, after inviting Farley to dinner, would deliberately stay away.”
    â€œWe’ve been over that point, too. There’s nothing to be gained by discussing it again. Farley, you must be starving. Let’s go down and eat the damn ragout, if it’s still edible.”
    â€œHaven’t you eaten it yet? ” asked Fanny.
    â€œNo. We kept thinking Terry would be along any minute.”
    â€œThere you are, Farley,” Fanny turned to big brother with a frown. “You said I couldn’t share the ragout because there wouldn’t be enough. As it happens, there would have been plenty for all.”
    â€œHow the hell was I to know Terry wouldn’t show up? I’m no fortune-teller.”
    â€œThere would probably have been enough in any event. You were determined to exclude me, that’s all.”
    â€œAnyhow,” said Jay, “there will be plenty now. Will you join us, Fanny?”
    â€œIt’s too late,” Fanny said. “I’ve already gone to the trouble of cooking and eating a steak and a baked potato. However, I’ll come along to keep you company. Perhaps you can give me a drink or something.”
    â€œAgreed,” said Jay.
    â€œShe’s incorrigible,” said Farley. “She has absolutely no sense of propriety whatever.”
    In the downstairs hall, outside Jay’s apartment, Farley paused and looked down the hall toward the alley exit. Like the vestibule, it was at the bottom of a shallow flight of stairs.
    â€œI don’t suppose there is anything to be learned from checking the back door,” he said.
    â€œI don’t see what,” Jay said, pushing his own door open. “It has a nightlatch. Anyone can go out that way. Besides, it’s left unlocked most of the time, so that anyone who parks on the apron can get in. I think Orville locks it for the night at eleven. After that, anyone who wants in has to come around to the front entrance. Damn it, don’t try to make a police case out of this, Farley. You know and I know that Terry’s simply on the loose. Let’s leave it like that.”
    They went inside; the ragout, keeping warm, still smelled good. Fanny and Farley stopped in the living room, and Jay went into the kitchen. China and silverware, being removed from the places where they were kept, made identifiable noises.
    â€œAre you wearing pants,” Farley said, “or has your skin turned blue?”
    â€œDon’t be absurd,” Fanny said. “All girls wear tight pants these days. It’s the style.”
    â€œIt’s a wonder to me how they get in and out of them.”
    â€œYou mustn’t be prudish, big brother. It doesn’t suit you. If I am any judge of male character, you know perfectly well how they do.”
    Jay appeared in the kitchen doorway holding a large serving spoon, with which he gestured like a cop directing traffic.
    â€œCome and get it, Farley,” he said. “There’s no use making a production out of this. Serve yourself from the skillet and eat here in the living room if you like.”
    â€œI’ll serve,” said Fanny. “I can be useful as well as ornamental.”
    She went into the kitchen, relieving Jay of the serving spoon as she passed, and began to fill a plate from the skillet. She passed the plate to Farley, who had followed, and began to fill another.
    â€œJust a little