They Found Him Dead Read Online Free PDF Page B

Miss Allison. Then he sallied forth to brave the dangers of the sea fret, and Miss Allison, holding Emily's ebony cane, the rug which she used to cover her knees, and her handbag, went sedately upstairs in the wake of the carrying chair.
    Emily Kane, with her companion and her maid, occupied a suite of rooms in the west wing of the house.
    Miss Allison followed her there, arriving in time to see Ogle, her maid, helping her to an armchair in her bedroom.
    She laid down her various burdens and would have left Emily in Ogle's jealous charge had not Emily said: "Don't go! What did that hussy say to you in the conservatory?"
    "Nothing much," replied Patricia. "I've heard it all before, anyway."
    "She'll run off with that Dermott yet," prophesied Emily. "Good riddance to bad rubbish is what I say! Not that I want a scandal in the family. We'll leave that to the Mansells. Them and their precious son! You take my advice and send him to the right-about."
    "I will," promised Patricia.
    Emily began to sip the glass of Horlick's Malted Milk which Ogle had put into her hand. "If my son would take something hot going to bed it would do him more good than trapesing about on the cliffs at this hour of night," she remarked. "Fresh air indeed! There's a great deal of nonsense talked about fresh air these days. I've no patience with it. Why he doesn't catch his death of cold I don't know."
    "I expect he's hardened to all weathers by this time," said Patricia consolingly.
    "That remains to be seen. He's as pigheaded as his father was. Never knew a Kane who wasn't. Jim's as bad as the rest of them, I warn you—— Here, take this away!"
    Ogle relieved her of her empty glass and went out with it. Emily said: "I've had a very dull evening. Don't you start being discreet with me, young woman! That hussy's working up for mischief, or I don't know the signs. What's the matter with her?"
    "Well, as far as I can gather, she wants more money. On account of her Russian blood."
    Mrs. Kane stared for a moment and then gave a cackle of laughter. "She does, eh? It would do her more good to have a few children, and you may tell her I said so."
    Patricia laughed. "I expect you will tell her so yourself, Mrs. Kane."
    Ogle came back into the room and began to make ostentatious play with a dressing gown. Patricia bade her employer good-night and went away to her own bedroom.
    Mr. James Kane's proposal kept her mind occupied for quite some time but did not trouble her dreams.
    She slept as soundly as ever and did not wake until the housemaid entered the room at a quarter to eight with her early-morning tea.
    "If you please, miss, Pritchard would like a word with you," said this damsel, evidently thinking the request an odd one.
    Miss Allison blinked and said sleepily: "Pritchard wants a word with me? What on earth for?"
    "I don't know, miss. He didn't say, but he looks ever so queer," replied Doris eagerly.
    Miss Allison sat up. "Is he ill?"
    "Oh no, I don't think so, miss! He never said he was ill, but I'm sure there's something wrong. It struck both Mallard and I he looked queer."
    It seemed to Miss Allison that there must be something very wrong indeed to make Pritchard, who was almost the perfect butler, request an interview with her before ever she was out of bed. She got up and slid her feet into her slippers. "All right, I'll see him at once. Ask him to come upstairs, will you?"
    "He is upstairs, miss," said Doris. "He's waiting on the landing."
    Miss Allison put on her dressing gown and sallied forth on to the passage. Pritchard was standing at the head of the staircase. Miss Allison would not have described his appearance as queer, but he certainly looked rather worried. At sight of her he apologised for disturbing her at an unreasonable hour and said in a lowered voice: "I wouldn't have troubled you, miss, if I had not thought the matter serious—not to say disturbing. The master, miss, is not in his room, and his bed has not been slept in."
    Miss