The Red House Mystery Read Online Free PDF

you are." Cayley looked away—towards the shrubbery. "Do
you want to go noticing in there now?" He nodded at it.
    "I think we might leave that to the police," said Antony gently.
"It's—well, there's no hurry."
    Cayley gave a little sigh, as if he had been holding his breath for the
answer, and could now breathe again.
    "Thank you, Mr. Gillingham," he said.

Chapter IV - The Brother from Australia
*
    Guests at the Red House were allowed to do what they liked within
reason—the reasonableness or otherwise of it being decided by Mark. But
when once they (or Mark) had made up their minds as to what they wanted
to do, the plan had to be kept. Mrs. Calladine, who knew this little
weakness of their host's, resisted, therefore, the suggestion of Bill
that they should have a second round in the afternoon, and drive home
comfortably after tea. The other golfers were willing enough, but Mrs.
Calladine, without actually saying that Mr. Ablett wouldn't like it, was
firm on the point that, having arranged to be back by four, they should
be back by four.
    "I really don't think Mark wants us, you know," said the Major. Having
played badly in the morning, he wanted to prove to himself in the
afternoon that he was really better than that. "With this brother of his
coming, he'll be only too glad to have us out of the way."
    "Of course he will, Major." This from Bill. "You'd like to play,
wouldn't you, Miss Norris?"
    Miss Norris looked doubtfully at the hostess.
    "Of course, if you want to get back, dear, we mustn't keep you here.
Besides, it's so dull for you, not playing."
    "Just nine holes, mother," pleaded Betty.
    "The car could take you back, and you could tell them that we were
having another round, and then it could come back for us," said Bill
brilliantly.
    "It's certainly much cooler here than I expected," put in the Major.
    Mrs. Calladine fell. It was very pleasantly cool outside the golf-house,
and of course Mark would be rather glad to have them out of the way. So
she consented to nine holes; and the match having ended all-square, and
everybody having played much better than in the morning, they drove back
to the Red House, very well pleased with themselves.
    "Halo," said Bill to himself, as they approached the house, "isn't that
old Tony?"
    Antony was standing in front of the house, waiting for them. Bill waved,
and he waved back. Then as the car drew up, Bill, who was in front with
the chauffeur, jumped down and greeted him eagerly.
    "Hallo, you madman, have you come to stay, or what?" He had a sudden
idea. "Don't say you're Mark Ablett's long-lost brother from Australia,
though I could quite believe it of you." He laughed boyishly.
    "Hallo, Bill," said Antony quietly. "Will you introduce me? I'm afraid
I've got some bad news."
    Bill, rather sobered by this, introduced him. The Major and Mrs.
Calladine were on the near side of the car, and Antony spoke to them in
a low voice.
    "I'm afraid I'm going to give you rather a shock," he said. "Robert
Ablett, Mr. Mark Ablett's brother, has been killed." He jerked a thumb
over his shoulder. "In the house."
    "Good God!" said the Major.
    "Do you mean that he has killed himself?" asked Mrs. Calladine. "Just
now?"
    "It was about two hours ago. I happened to come here,"—he half-turned
to Beverley and explained—"I was coming to see you, Bill, and I arrived
just after the—the death. Mr. Cayley and I found the body. Mr. Cayley
being busy just now—there are police and doctors and so on in the
house—he asked me to tell you. He says that no doubt you would prefer,
the house-party having been broken up in this tragic way, to leave as
soon as possible." He gave a pleasant apologetic little smile and went
on, "I am putting it badly, but what he means, of course, is that you
must consult your own feelings in the matter entirely, and please make
your own arrangements about ordering the car for whatever train you wish
to catch. There is one this evening, I understand, which you could go by
if