House in Charlton Crescent Read Online Free Page B

no thought of anything serious and begged me not to dismiss him, but I felt it best to keep to my resolution. But I think this is begging the question, Mr. Cardyn. David Branksome alone of my household was not mentioned in my will. He was only a recent acquisition called in to help me in cataloguing my collection of miniatures, and the old editions in the library downstairs. Thus he had no motive. And, moreover, he had left me before I discovered the eighth pill. No, he had certainly no motive.”
    â€œH’m! No. Nevertheless, I think I will look Mr. Branksome up a bit. There is no certainty, as far as can see, when the extra pill was added. Was he with you before Miss Balmaine came, Lady Anne?”
    â€œOh, yes. A couple of months, should think.” Lady Anne wrinkled up her brows. “I can give you the exact dates by looking up my diary.” 
    She drew the book at her side towards her and turned over the pages rapidly.
    â€œHere it is! Branksome came to me on the 12th of September last year; Miss Balmaine reached us on the 29th of October.”
    â€œI see.” Bruce Cardyn put the elastic band round his pocket-book. “Lady Anne, your new secretary would like to come in at once.”
    â€œTo-day?” Lady Anne questioned.
    â€œIn an hour’s time,” Cardyn acquiesced. “I have to go back to the office to make a few arrangements. For, with your permission, I am going to set a watch on the house outside!”
    â€œOutside?” Lady Anne raised her eyebrows. “Really, I do not think that is necessary, Mr. Cardyn. The outside staff have no possible means of access—”
    â€œIt is not so much the outside staff that I am thinking of, though I shall give them a little attention, too, but I want any communication that the people inside the house have with outsiders carefully watched. In some cases, too, there will be probably shadowing to be done. But you have given me carte blanche, Lady Anne, though I will not trouble you with the details of my precautions, I want you to feel that you are perfectly safe. For a few days I am going to ask you to eat only at meal-times, when there can be no certainty beforehand who will partake of the food. Eschew all odd cups of milk, even your morning tea, until the assassin is found. I will get your prescription made up at the chemist’s myself, if you will permit, and give the medicines into your own hands. While you will, I hope, keep them all locked up and allow no one to have access to them.”
    â€œI dare say I can manage it,” Lady Anne said doubtfully. “But I am afraid Pirnie will be offended. She is my confidential maid, you understand, and the most faithful, the most honest creature in the world. For me even to say that she is entirely beyond suspicion is absurd.”
    Bruce Cardyn coughed.
    â€œNevertheless, even the most confidential of maids must be suspect until we have discovered the guilty person. I must ask you to adhere strictly to this rule, please, Lady Anne.”
    Â â€œWell, well, leave it in your hands,” Lady Anne conceded. “Only make me safe, though I dare say you are thinking it is an unnecessary bother to make about an old woman.”
    The detective got up.
    â€œI will safeguard your life as I would have done my own mother’s, Lady Anne.”
    He took a few steps up the room looking grave and preoccupied.
    â€œOf course it is my duty to tell you that it is my opinion that the only way to make you absolutely safe is for you to leave this house, letting no one know where you go or how long you will be away, taking no one with you, and of course not returning until we have discovered the identity of the would-be assassin.”
    â€œOh, I couldn’t do that,” Lady Anne said in her most positive tone. “My good man, I have long since given up going away for change of air, as they call it. I can get all the change of air that I want in London, and an