In Search of Murder--An Inspector Alvarez Mallorcan Mystery Read Online Free Page B

forgot the question, went over to the picture windows, stared at the bay below and the surrounding mountains. Confirmation that nature could offer a no more beautiful scene.
    He sat. The room was furnished for effect and comfort; the large fireplace, in which a wood burning stove had been unnecessarily placed since there were four radiators, had a carved marble fire surround; a couple of paintings hung on one wall, their subjects sufficiently indistinguishable to be great modern art; on another wall was a large, framed photograph of an old binder, dawn by two heavy horses, collecting up the cut corn and discarding it in sheaves.
    Rosalía returned with a silver salver on which were two cups of coffee, sugar bowl, milk jug, and a plateful of almond biscuits. They ate, drank, chatted and it was half an hour before he said, ‘Tell me about the señor and señora.’
    â€˜What is there to tell?’
    He stood, produced a pack of cigarettes and offered it.
    â€˜We are not allowed to smoke in the house because the smell disturbs the señora.’
    He started to return the pack to his pocket.
    â€˜That does not mean we do not smoke in the house, just that we do it somewhere where she is unlikely to go.’
    She accepted a cigarette, he lit a match for both of them, returned to a chair. ‘She is very susceptible to cigarette smoke?’
    â€˜Maybe. Or perhaps it had unfortunate memories for her.’
    â€˜Why unfortunate?’
    â€˜Ask her, not me.’
    â€˜Would you say she’s a pleasant person?’
    â€˜As long as nothing goes wrong.’
    â€˜And the señor?’
    â€˜He had very little regard for anyone but himself. Like all men, he wanted to be thought more important than he was and as I may have told you, demanded we called him Don not Señor Picare.’
    â€˜And you rightly refused. Did he often irritate you like that?’
    â€˜Never more so that when he said my
Pollo al ajilla
tasted peculiar when it was good enough to serve at a royal banquet.’
    â€˜The English regard garlic with deep suspicion because it drives the devil away. But I’m sure you never made your annoyance obvious.’
    â€˜Not even when he often saw me for the first time in the morning and nipped my bum.’
    â€˜You didn’t complain loudly?’
    â€˜It was always just a friendly nip.’
    â€˜I believe he liked to drink?’
    â€˜As much as anyone, more than most.’
    â€˜Did he enjoy many friendships?’
    â€˜If that is how you wish to describe the company of the women.’
    â€˜Were they mostly single or married?’
    â€˜Various.’
    â€˜You weren’t worried by all that?’
    â€˜Am I fifteen years’ old?’
    â€˜Did it disturb Marta?’
    â€˜Probably, but she never said anything.’
    â€˜But didn’t it make her think that if her daydream came true, it would sooner or later for her turn into a nightmare?’
    â€˜She is old enough to understand that after marriage, a man continues to enjoy himself at the expense of other women, whether vizcondesa or peasant.’
    â€˜Didn’t the señora raise strong objection to what went on?’
    â€˜He entertained his women when she was not here, but with friends; no doubt the women amused him when their husbands were away. In any case, she is not the kind of person to complain, not even when he went to England for a couple of weeks or more, leaving her here on her own.’
    â€˜She was very lonely?’
    â€˜That is not for me to say, but I did what I could to cheer her up.’
    â€˜Why did he return to England when he had such fun here?’
    â€˜Maybe he entered a retreat in order to punish his flesh.’
    â€˜You think that’s possible?’
    â€˜I believe in little green men from Mars.’
    â€˜Did you ever talk to him, find out about his life, like how he became rich? Did he win a lottery?’
    â€˜Not really,