The Seven Dials Mystery Read Online Free PDF

worst, powerful personalities or earnest politicians. I do so prefer the cheerful inefficient.”
    “A cheerful inefficient wouldn't have been able to pay you the price you asked for this old mausoleum,” Bundle reminded him.
    Lord Caterham winced.
    “I wish you wouldn't use that word, Bundle. We were just getting away from the subject.”
    “I don't see why you're so frightfully sensitive about it,” said Bundle. “After all, people must die somewhere.”
    “They needn't die in my house,” said Lord Caterham.
    “I don't see why not. Lots of people have. Masses of stuffy old great grandfathers and grandmothers.”
    “That's different,” said Lord Caterham. “Naturally I expect parents to die here - they don't count. But I do object to strangers. And I especially object to inquests. The thing will become a habit soon. This is the second. You remember all that fuss we had four years ago? For which, by the way, I hold George Lomax entirely to blame.”
    “And now you're blaming poor old steamroller Coote. I'm sure he was quite as annoyed about it as anyone.”
    “Very inconsiderate,” said Lord Caterham obstinately. “People who are likely to do that sort of thing oughtn't to be asked to stay. And you may say what you like, Bundle, I don't like inquests. I never have and I never shall.”
    “Well, this wasn't the same sort of thing as the last one,” said Bundle soothingly. “I mean, it wasn't a murder.”
    “It might have been - from the fuss that thickhead of an inspector made. He's never got over that business four years ago. He thinks every death that takes place here must necessarily be a case of foul play fraught with grave political significance. You've no idea the fuss he made. I've been hearing about it from Tredwell. Tested everything imaginable for finger-prints. And of course they only found the dead man's own. The clearest case imaginable - though whether it was suicide or accident is another matter.”
    “I met Gerry Wade once,” said Bundle. “He was a friend of Bill's. You'd have liked him, Father, I never saw anyone more cheerfully inefficient than he was.”
    “I don't like anyone who comes and dies in my house on purpose to annoy me,” said Lord Caterham obstinately.
    “But I certainly can't imagine anyone murdering him,” continued Bundle. “The idea's absurd.”
    “Of course it is,” said Lord Caterham. “Or would be to anyone but an ass like Inspector Raglan.”
    “I daresay looking for finger-prints made him feel important,” said Bundle soothingly. “Anyway, they brought it in 'Death by misadventure,' didn't they?”
    Lord Caterham acquiesced.
    “They had to show some consideration for the sister's feelings.”
    “Was there a sister? I didn't know.”
    “Half-sister, I believe. She was much younger. Old Wade ran away with her mother - he was always doing that sort of thing. No woman appealed to him unless she belonged to another man.”
    “I'm glad there's one bad habit you haven't got,” said Bundle.
    “I've always led a very respectable God-fearing life,” said Lord Caterham. “It seems extraordinary, considering how little harm I do to anybody, that I can't be let alone. If only -”
    He stopped as Bundle made a sudden excursion through the window.
    “MacDonald,” called Bundle in a clear, autocratic voice.
    The emperor approached. Something that might possibly have been taken for a smile of welcome tried to express itself on his countenance, but the natural gloom of gardeners dispelled it.
    “Your ladyship?” said MacDonald.
    “How are you?” said Bundle.
    “I'm no verra grand,” said MacDonald.
    “I wanted to speak to you about the bowling green. It's shockingly overgrown. Put someone on to it, will you?”
    MacDonald shook his head dubiously.
    “It would mean taking William from the lower border, m'lady.”
    “Damn the lower border,” said Bundle. “Let him start at once. And MacDonald -”
    “Yes, m'lady?”
    “Let's have some of those grapes