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

him?”
    The lawyer shrugged. Dr. Reinach picked up his glass again. “Am I imagining things, or is there the vaguest hint of hostility in the circumambient ether?”
    â€œReinach—” began Thorne harshly.
    â€œDon’t worry about Keith, Thorne. We let him pretty much alone. He’s sour on the world, which demonstrates his good sense; but I’m afraid he’s unlike me in that he hasn’t the emotional buoyancy to rise above his wisdom. You’ll probably find him anti-social.… Ah, there you are, my dear! Lovely, lovely.”
    Alice was wearing a different gown, a simple unfrilled frock, and she had freshened up. There was color in her cheeks and her eyes were sparkling with a light and tinge they had not had before. Seeing her for the first time without her hat and coat, Ellery thought she looked different, as all women contrive to look different divested of their outer clothing and refurbished by the mysterious activities which go on behind the closed doors of feminine dressing rooms. Apparently the ministrations of another woman, too, had cheered her; there were still rings under her eyes, but her smile was more cheerful.
    â€œThank you, Uncle Herbert.” Her voice was slightly husky. “But I do think I’ve caught a nasty cold.”
    â€œWhisky and hot lemonade,” said the fat man promptly. “Eat lightly and go to bed early.”
    â€œTo tell the truth, I’m famished.”
    â€œThen eat as much as you like. I’m one hell of a physician, as no doubt you’ve already detected. Shall we go in to dinner?”
    â€œYes,” said Mrs. Reinach in a frightened voice. “We shan’t wait for Sarah or Nicholas.”
    Alice’s eyes dulled a little. Then she sighed and took the fat man’s arm and they all trooped into the dining room.
    Dinner was a failure. Dr. Reinach divided his energies between gargantuan inroads on the viands and copious drinking. Mrs. Reinach donned an apron and served, scarcely touching her own food in her haste to prepare the next course and clear the plates; apparently the household employed no domestic. Alice gradually lost her color, the old strained look reappearing on her face; occasionally she cleared her throat. The oil lamp on the table flickered badly, and every mouthful Ellery swallowed was flavored with the taste of oil. Besides, the pièce de résistance was curried lamb; if there was one dish he detested, it was lamb, and if there was one culinary style that sickened him, it was curry. Thorne ate stolidly, not raising his eyes from his plate.
    As they returned to the living room the old lawyer managed to drop behind. He whispered to Alice: “Is everything all right? Are you?”
    â€œI’m a little scarish, I think,” she said quietly. “Mr. Thorne, please don’t think me a child, but there’s something so strange about—everything.… I wish now I hadn’t come.”
    â€œI know,” muttered Thorne. “And yet it was necessary, quite necessary. If there was any way-to spare you this, I should have taken it. But you obviously couldn’t stay in that horrible hole next door—”
    â€œOh, no,” she shuddered.
    â€œAnd there isn’t a hotel for miles and miles. Miss Mayhew, has any of these people—”
    â€œNo, no. It’s just that they’re so strange to me. I suppose it’s my imagination and this cold. Would you greatly mind if I went to bed? Tomorrow will be time enough to talk.”
    Thorne patted her hand. She smiled gratefully, murmured an apology, kissed Dr. Reinach’s cheek, and went upstairs with Mrs. Reinach again.
    They had just settled themselves before the fire again and were lighting cigarettes when feet stamped somewhere at the rear of the house.
    â€œMust be Nick,” wheezed the doctor. “Now where’s he been?”
    The gigantic young man appeared in the living-room archway,