The Siamese Twin Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

mind, sir …” and he leaped to his feet to find the stout squat figure of Mrs. Wheary standing by his chair with a tray in her broad hands.
    “Oh, I say!” he exclaimed, reddening. “Execrable manners. Please excuse it, Doctor. The fact is—the long drive, the fire—”
    “Nonsense,” said Dr. Xavier with an abstracted laugh. “Your father and I were just commenting upon the inadequate capacity of the younger generation for standing up under physical punishment. It’s quite all right, Mr. Queen. Would you care to wash up before—?”
    “If we may.” Ellery eyed the tray hungrily. The pangs had returned, catching him unaware, and he could have devoured the cold food before him on the spot, tray and all.
    Dr. Xavier conducted them to the corridor, turned left, and led the way to a staircase overlooking another corridor which crossed the one leading out of the foyer. They ascended a flight of carpeted stairs and found themselves on the landing of what was apparently the sleeping-quarters floor. Except for a dim night light above the landing the single hall was dark. All doors were tightly closed. The rooms behind the doors were silent as niches in a tomb.
    “Brr!” muttered Ellery in his father’s ear as they followed the stately figure of their host down the hall. “Nice place for a murder. Even the wind is performing in character! Listen to that silly howling, will you? The banshees are out in full force tonight.”
    “You listen to it,” growled the Inspector contentedly, “or even them. Not even an army of banshees could ruffle my hair tonight, old son. Why, this place looks like the Marble Palace to me! Murder? You’re off your nut. This is the nicest damned house I’ve ever set foot in.”
    “I’ve seen nicer,” said Ellery gloomily. “Besides, you’ve always been primarily a creature of the senses. … Ah, Doctor! This is perfectly angelic of you.”
    Dr. Xavier had flung open a door. The room was a vast bedroom—all the rooms in this gargantuan establishment were enormous—and neatly grouped on the floor at the foot of the wide double bed were the heterogeneous components of the Queens’ luggage.
    “Not another word,” said Dr. Xavier. And yet he said it absently, without the proper heartiness one might expect from an otherwise impeccable host. “Where on earth could you go with the fire burning below? This is the only house for miles around, Mr. Queen. … I’ve taken the liberty, while you were—resting downstairs, of having my man Bones carry your luggage up here. Bones—odd name, eh? He’s an unfortunate old derelict I picked up years ago; quite devoted to me, I assure you, despite a certain gruffness of manner, ha-ha! Bones will take care of your car. We’ve a garage here; cars get frightfully damp outdoors at this elevation, you know.”
    “Bully for Bones,” murmured Ellery.
    “Yes, yes. … And now, there’s the lavatory. The general bathroom is behind the landing. I’ll leave you to your ablutions.”
    He smiled and left the room, closing the door gently. The Queens, left alone in the center of that colossal bedchamber, stared wordlessly at each other. Then the Inspector shrugged, stripped off his coat, and made for the indicated lavatory door.
    Ellery followed, muttering: “Ablutions! That’s the first time I’ve heard that word in twenty years. Remember the fussy old Greek who taught me at the Crosley School? Did a Mrs. Malaprop with the word, misusing it for ‘absolution.’ Ablutions! I tell you, dad, the more I see of this ominous establishment the less I like it.”
    “The more fool you,” burbled the Inspector to the accompaniment of snorts and running water. “Good, by God! I needed this. Come on, son; get going. That grub downstairs won’t last forever.”
    When they had washed and combed and brushed the dust from their clothes, they went out into the dark corridor.
    Ellery shivered. “What do we do now—just hurl ourselves downstairs? Being the