Traitor's Purse Read Online Free Page A

embarrassed about coming to the vital point. She was having such an extraordinary effect on him. He was so very glad of her, so childishly content and happy to find her. He wished to God that she would take his head on her heart and let him go to sleep. It was ridiculous to have to ask her to tell him her name.
    ‘It is all very difficult,’ he began awkwardly.
    ‘I know.’ Her agreement was so heartfelt that it silenced him. ‘It’s frightful, and there’s absolutely no time to talk and get it straight. We’re here already and we daren’t be late, it’ll look so fishy.’
    She swung the car up a steep incline and through a columned gateway as she spoke.
    ‘I only found out where you were by a miracle. I’d been waiting down at the station as we arranged. I got rid of Anscombe until four o’clock, but after that I had to carry him around with me, telling him one dubious tale after another. I had to bring him because he insisted. He said he had to see his dentist and he asked Lee Aubrey if I’d give him a lift. Lee made a personal request of it and I couldn’t refuse without sounding suspicious. So there he was.’
    The car had not stopped. As far as Campion could see they were rolling through some sort of park. The girl was still talking. She was nervous and a little breathless.
    ‘He’s a terrifying old boy, isn’t he?’ she demanded. ‘Flat mental deficiency for ninety-nine per cent of the time and single flashes of acuteness. You don’t know whether it’s silver showing through the disguising tarnish or the last few flecks of plate on the old tin spoon. Our only hope is to get down to the meal and behave normally. Have you got anything under that decontamination outfit? Can we leave it in the car?’
    ‘It all depends where we’re going,’ he said. ‘I’m in pyjamas … awful grey flannel things.’
    ‘What?’ She stopped the car in her astonishment and turned to him. ‘What happened? You’re not hurt?’
    ‘Oh lord no,’ he said, warmed by her anxiety. ‘I’m all right really. I only got knocked out.’
    ‘Oh that was it, was it?’ she said, much more relieved than he had expected her to be and far less surprised. ‘The man in the paper shop simply whispered “hospital”. I didn’t get an opportunity to talk to him at all. The place was full of people and there wasn’t time. It was nearly five then and I had the wretched Anscombe inside. That old man knows something, I swear it.’
    ‘More than I do,’ said Campion grimly.
    To his surprise she caught him up. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘That’s what I thought. We’ll bear him in mind. I say, I am glad you’re all right. It never went through my mind that you might have gone to the hospital as a patient. When I saw you charging out in the deep-sea-diver costume I thought some kind friend had lent it to you to hide the tramp’s garbage. I’ve got your change in the luggage hatch. That’s what was worrying me so when you didn’t turn up before Anscombe returned. I didn’t see how I was going to get it to you before he saw you. Well, it’s silly to change now, isn’t it? You’ll have to smuggle yourself in.’
    The man laughed. She was charming and he was very tired.
    ‘Anything you say, lady,’ he said. ‘Where do we go?’
    ‘I think that side door,’ she said, ‘don’t you? The one that leads up out of the yard where we leave the car. I know it’s bad form for house guests to use the back stairs, but we’ll just have to look badly brought up if we’re seen. You could always shout “Fire!” again of course, but that might not help in the long run.’
    He sat watching her silhouette as she manoeuvred the big car skilfully into a narrow entrance by the side of a large dim building. She was an astonishing young person, as practical and energetic as a child and utterly without affectation. He thought her voice was the coolest and most comforting sound he had ever heard.
    She parked the car and he climbed out, stiff