The Sleeping Salesman Enquiry Read Online Free PDF Page A

have Roy.
    “Phew!” said Deirdre. “That’s got that one dealt with, then. I love delving back into family history, so count me in, Roy. There are lots of sites on the computer that might help.”
    Roy smiled, and thanked everyone. “I shall expect to pay fees into the agency account,” he said, and his suggestion was immediately drowned out by noisy refusals.
    “So, Gus is going to the bus stop tomorrow morning, and as there’s still time for a last coffee and a Miriam fruit scone, shall we end the meeting there?” Deirdre stood up, and walked towards the door.
    “Looks like we already have,” said Ivy, a trifle acidly. “Now that Miriam is baking for the shop, there will be no need for any of us to turn on our cookers, will there, Deirdre?”

S ix

    GUS LOOKED AT his watch. He had overslept, and fumbling for his watch disturbed an offended Whippy, who was still snoozing at the end of his bed.
    “Blast!” It was Saturday already, and if the bus was on time, it would be across the Green and outside the shop in exactly one hour’s time. He leapt out of bed, stubbing his toe on a leg of the bed. Hopping painfully to the bathroom, he had a quick sluice down, wishing he had not stayed so long at Miriam’s last evening. She had, as usual, insisted he stay for coffee and chocs, and he had fallen asleep on her sofa. When he had surfaced at midnight, she was curled up with her head on his shoulder, leaving him in a dilemma. Should he wake her and return home, or should he leave her sleeping peacefully until morning?
    He had chosen the first option, and she had been resentful, saying all he wanted from her was her cooking. He tried to find a tactful way of saying she was right, and was more or less shown the door.
    Now he dressed quickly. One of these days, he said to himself, you will find yourself in Miriam Blake’s warm bed, having been tempted once too often by her homemade primrose wine, and unable to stop her having her wicked way with you. Well, he consoled himself as he pulled a warm jersey over his head, worse things could happen.
    He gave Whippy her breakfast, and looked at the clock. Ten minutes to go. “Better be off, little dog,” he said, and fixed her lead. “Let’s hope Roy’s ugly man appears this morning. And if he turns out to be Alfred Lowe, I shall not be put off. Oh God, there’s Miriam at the back door!” he added. “Come on, quickly, let’s creep out the front way. Good dog. No, no barking! Quickly!”
    Once out of the cottage and striding across the Green with Whippy trotting along beside him, Gus’s spirits rose. It seemed as if the wedding of the year was really going to happen this time, and he looked forward to a May weekend of jollity. He was fond of both Ivy and Roy, and could think of no reason at all why they should not be very happy in the time left to them. He would call on them after his stint at the bus stop, and see how they were getting along with preparations. His own marriage had been disastrous, but he was not against the institution entirely. Sometimes he even considered asking Deirdre how she felt about it. But her recent reaction when she had quite mistakenly thought he was about to propose had been enough for him to forget it for the moment.
    They reached the shop, and the usual crowd of shoppers stood waiting for the bus. It must be galling for James, Gus thought now. His own shop was well stocked with all that anyone could need, whilst not ten yards from his open door stood potential customers in a line ready to spend their all at Tesco in Thornwell.
    But hang on a minute! There was Alf again! Why would a miserly old bachelor want to go two days in one week? But then again, why not? The thing to do would be to ask him. Gus took a deep breath, attached Whippy’s lead to the shop’s dog hook, and returned to the queue with a big smile.
    “Good morning, Mr. Lowe,” he said. “My name is Halfhide, Gus Halfhide, and I believe we may have friends in common? I