The New Adventures of Ellery Queen Read Online Free PDF Page A

that?”
    â€œNick Keith.” The fat man slipped off his coat and went to the fire to warm his flabby hands. “My morose protégé. You’ll find him pleasant company, my dear, if you can pierce that thick defensive armor he wears. Does odd jobs about the place, as I believe I mentioned, but don’t let that hold you back. This is a democratic country.”
    â€œI’m sure he’s very nice. Would you excuse me? Aunt Milly, if you’d be kind enough to …”
    The young man reappeared under a load of baggage, clumped across the living room, and plodded up the stairs. And suddenly, as if at a signal, Mrs. Reinach broke out into a noisy twittering and took Alice’s arm and led her to the staircase. They disappeared after Keith.
    â€œAs a medical man,” chuckled the fat man, taking their wraps and depositing them in a hall closet, “I prescribe a large dose of … this, gentlemen.” He went to a sideboard and brought out a decanter of brandy. “Very good for chilled bellies.” He tossed off his own glass with an amazing facility, and in the light of the fire the finely etched capillaries in his bulbous nose stood out clearly. “Ah-h! One of life’s major compensations. Warming, eh? And now I suppose you feel the need of a little sprucing up yourselves. Come along, and I’ll show you to your rooms.”
    Ellery shook his head in a dogged way, trying to clear it. “There’s something about your house, Doctor, that’s unusually soporific. Thank you, I think both Thorne and I would appreciate a brisk wash.”
    â€œYou’ll find it brisk enough,” said the fat man, shaking with silent laughter. “This is the forest primeval, you know. Not only haven’t we any electric light or gas or telephone, but we’ve no running water, either. Well behind the house keeps us supplied. The simple life, eh? Better for you than the pampering influences of modern civilization. Our ancestors may have died more easily of bacterial infections, but I’ll wager they had a greater body immunity to coryza!… Well, well, enough of this prattle. Up you go.”
    The chilly corridor upstairs made them shiver, but the very shiver revived them; Ellery felt better at once. Dr. Reinach, carrying candles and matches, showed Thorne into a room overlooking the front of the house, and Ellery into one on the side. A fire burned crisply in the large fireplace in one corner, and the basin on the old-fashioned washstand was filled with icy-looking water.
    â€œHope you find it comfortable,” drawled the fat man, lounging in the doorway. “We were expecting only Thorne and my niece, but one more can always be accommodated. Ah—colleague of Thorne’s, I believe he said?”
    â€œTwice,” replied Ellery. “If you don’t mind—”
    â€œNot at all.” Reinach lingered, eyeing Ellery with a smile. Ellery shrugged, stripped off his coat, and made his ablutions. The water was cold; it nipped his fingers like the mouths of little fishes. He scrubbed his face vigorously.
    â€œThat’s better,” he said, drying himself. “Much. I wonder why I felt so peaked downstairs.”
    â€œSudden contrast of heat after cold, no doubt.” Dr. Reinach made no move to go.
    Ellery shrugged again. He opened his bag with pointed nonchalance. There, plainly revealed on his haberdashery, lay the .38 police revolver. He tossed it aside.
    â€œDo you always carry a gun, Mr. Queen?” murmured Dr. Reinach.
    â€œAlways.” Ellery picked up the revolver and slipped it into his hip pocket.
    â€œCharming!” The fat man stroked his triple chin. “Charming. Well, Mr. Queen, if you’ll excuse me I’ll see how Thorne is getting on. Stubborn fellow, Thorne. He could have taken pot luck with us this past week, but he insisted on isolating himself in that filthy den next door.”
    â€œI