House in Charlton Crescent Read Online Free Page A

months as a matter of fact.”
    Cardyn was writing quickly now. “You said your husband’s granddaughter?” he questioned.
    â€œYes,” Lady Anne said, with another quick glance at the detective’s sleek, bent head. “My husband had been married and lost his wife before he met me. He had one daughter who ran away and nearly broke her father’s heart. She died many years ago in Australia, and we had no idea that she had left any children until this girl turned up a few months ago and introduced herself to me.”
    â€œShe had, I presume, the necessary credentials?”
    â€œOh, yes. Quite so. Quite so!” Lady Anne assented. “My lawyer saw to that, naturally. And, as a matter of course, the girl is making her home with me while she remains in England. Then, running up and down so often that, though he is not a member of my household, he might almost be reckoned as such, is John Daventry, my husband’s nephew, who succeeded to the estate on the death of his—cousins.”
    There was a momentary break in the firm voice at the allusion to her dead sons, then she went on: “He is half engaged to my elder niece, Dorothy Fyvert. At least for some years it has been a sort of family arrangement about them. Just of late, however, I have begun to wonder whether it will ever come to anything. They seem to regard one another as cousins and Mr. Daventry certainly admires Miss Balmaine. This is being very confidential, Mr. Cardyn, but I wish you to be thoroughly au courant with everything in the house.”
    â€œI quite understand that,” Cardyn said quietly. “But you said just now that every member of the household had a motive. I presume these young people are included?”
    Lady Anne bent her head and for a moment pressed her dainty handkerchief to her lips.
    â€œEvery one in the house has some motive, as I said. By my husband’s will, his private fortune— a very large one—is divided at my death between John Daventry and the heirs of my husband’s daughter, Marjorie—Miss Balmaine, in other words. Should Mr. Daventry predecease me his share passes on with my estate. Oh, I was forgetting! Until last Saturday my house had another inmate—my secretary, David Branksome. Now, Mr. Cardyn, as I told you, I am looking for a new secretary, and it occurred to me that the post might be occupied by one of your employees who, while ostensibly working with me, might be really watching over my safety.”
    â€œA very good idea,” Cardyn assented. “With your permission I will take the post myself. I suppose there are no special qualifications needed.”
    Lady Anne looked a little doubtful.
    â€œI have a collection of wonderful old miniatures, which I am having catalogued and described. Do you know anything of them? Of course I could help you.”
    â€œI think I should be able to manage.” Cardyn made an entry in his book. Then he looked at her, tapping his lips with his pencil as he waited. “May I ask why Mr. Branksome left?”
    Lady Anne hesitated.
    â€œI had some reason to be displeased with him,” she said stiffly. “But that does not enter into this matter at all.”
    Bruce Cardyn frowned.
    â€œPardon me, I think it does. In that very cause for your displeasure may lie the clue to the mystery we are trying to solve. You must be perfectly frank with me, Lady Anne.”
    Lady Anne’s indecision was apparent, but at last common-sense prevailed. 
    â€œWell, I do not see how it can have the slightest connection,” she surrendered. “But, though David Branksome was in some respects a good enough secretary, I did not care for him; he took too much upon himself—I hardly know how to describe it— and I seriously objected to his manner with Miss Balmaine. She, of course, coming from Australia, where I suppose all men are equal, apparently saw no harm in it. She assured me that she had