Death at Hallows End Read Online Free Page A

Theodora. “I shall leave you together. You know him, don’t you? If anyone can help us it is he!”
    She left them in a dramatic and purposeful way, shutting the door firmly behind her.
    Molly Caplan smiled.
    â€œYou’re not fooled, are you?” she said. “Theodora’s terribly upset, really. You mustn’t think because she behaves like Ophelia that she’s not suffering. I know she is.”
    â€œI’m sure she must be. Yet I can’t help feeling that in some way she enjoys that suffering.”
    â€œCould be,” said Molly Caplan sharply. “What do you want to know from me?”
    â€œTo be frank, I can’t really say. Anything you like to tell me, I suppose.”
    â€œDo I think he’s left her, for example. No, I don’t. It was a strange relationship, but they were fond of each other. He was a bore with all his health and fitness and she as you know is a tragedy queen, but somehow it worked. He would have said he made allowances for her, but really she did for him. A man in his sixties who did physical jerks before a window every morning and threatened to take up yoga can’t have been easy to live with. I’ve been in the house five years and I’d describe them, without hesitation, as a happily married couple.”
    â€œYou think he confided in her?”
    â€œThere was nothing much to confide. He never talked about his business, if that’s what you mean.”
    â€œNever? Did
you
know for instance that Thripp wanted to sell their practice and Duncan Humby wouldn’t hear of it?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact I did. Lionel Thripp is an old friend of mine. It was through him I came to look after Theodora and Duncan. But I think it’s perfectly possible that Theodora didn’t know that. Duncan made a point of not talking shop.”
    â€œSo she would not have any idea where he was going that day?”
    â€œNone, I should say. Not an inkling.”
    â€œHad you?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œAn inkling?”
    For the first time Molly Caplan looked a little uncomfortable.
    â€œI don’t see why you should ask. How can it possibly help your enquiries?”
    â€œIt may not. But someone must have known, apart from Thripp.”
    â€œYes. I knew. But not from Duncan Humby. I think we won’t go into that any farther.”
    â€œAll right. Just tell me how long you had known?”
    â€œWell, since the previous evening. Now …”
    â€œWhat’s your theory, Mrs. Caplan?”
    â€œDon’t have one. But it looks pretty ugly to me. Duncan’s an obstinate man. Someone might have to kill him before he’d give in.”
    â€œUnless he could be fooled or persuaded into something incautious,”
    â€œMost unlikely,”
    â€œYou have a car, Mrs. Caplan?”
    She stared at him.
    â€œWhat on
earth …”
    â€œNothing, really,” said Carolus, smiling. “It’s a question I may have to ask several people in Newminster. Call it a formality.”
    â€œI have a car, yes,” said Molly Caplan sulkily.
    â€œDid you use it that Monday?”
    â€œThis is absurd, you know. Mondays are my days off. Naturally I used my car.”
    â€œBut you don’t feel like telling me where you went?”
    â€œI certainly don’t. I find your questions impertinent and foolish.”
    â€œThey must seem so. I’m sorry. Will you at least tell me at what time you took your car out?”
    â€œImmediately after lunch, of course.”
    â€œAnd you returned?”
    â€œBefore midnight. Now that’s enough.”
    â€œYour car is a …”
    â€œFord Consul. Blue,” snapped Molly Caplan and stood up as though to dismiss him.
    Carolus left the house after going back to say goodbye to Theodora. He had a pretty shrewd idea of the two women, if nothing else.
    He decided to go over to Hallows End next day, and was irritated to find thick fog. Last