The Andre Norton Megapack - 15 Classic Novels and Short Stories

discovered, as indeed it was.”
    “But how did you find all that out. He didn’t confess, did he?”
    “Oh never. He’s the best cover-upper ever known but he was so sure of himself that he neglected to jettison his supplies in his office in Worcester and that’s how we got him. He’ll do time, I’m happy to say.”
    “And another little thing he forgot to hide was the architect’s drawing of his future happy home,” Thane contributed.
    “Yes. He confessed in the end that he had intended it for Catherine originally but when he tired of her it was replanned for Philippine. They would have made a most excellent pair. He was, of course, another one of Philippine’s motives for murder.”
    “He must have suspected her, surely,” Connie said.
    “Undoubtedly. He may even have encouraged her in the first show. But, of course, he won’t admit to anything of the sort. He’s a lawyer with a strong sense of self-preservation.”
    “He’ll need it when he gets out,” Thane said with obvious pleasure.
    They were all silent for a time when he finished speaking and then Peter got slowly to his feet. “I promised Dr. Scott to get Fredericka home early and I have a hunch that you two could do with some sleep.”
    Connie yawned and then laughed. “I think you’re sensible, Peter, but we do hate to have you go. May I help for a while longer in the bookshop, Fredericka? I had no idea it would be such fun. Oh, and I’ve been meaning to ask you—can you tell me why the Reverend Archibald has such a passion for Bertrand Russell’s books? I never would have suspected it of him.”
    “Sh—Connie,” Peter answered quickly, “We can’t start questioning the minister.”
    “Perhaps he wants watching.” Thane laughed. “But I can’t spare a man right now. Perhaps Colonel Mohun—”
    “It’s time we left, Fredericka,” Peter said quickly, taking her arm and handing over her crutch.
    When they got to the car, Peter stopped to push down the top.
    “All the thunder’s over, my dear,” he said quietly, “and I thought we’d like to look at the stars.”
    “It’s beautiful, Peter, and so incredibly peaceful. I’ve been thinking of that all evening. All this horror and now it’s gone there’s peace again.”
    “But is that such a world-shaking thought, my dear Fredericka?”
    “Oh, Peter, don’t make fun of me. It’s only that two people who were so much a part of the life of this place—are dead and yet even Mrs. Sutton is peaceful.”
    “It will take ‘Mom’ Hartwell a long time to recover—James probably never will.”
    “Oh yes—but I’m not charitable enough to waste any sympathy on him.”
    “And I’m certain I don’t want you to, my dear Fredericka, especially as I could see plainly that he had begun to make sheep’s eyes at you.”
    “I suppose he did care about Philippine?”
    “I wonder. She had a hold on him because she knew about his little dope racket. But I must say his interest in building his estate certainly picked up after Catherine was out of the way.”
    “Do you think he found Philippine looking for the silver box when he discovered the body on that awful Saturday afternoon?”
    “He may have done. It’s hard to say. But can’t we leave him now, please—I’d rather like to talk about ourselves—”
    “Is there anything to say about us?”
    “Yes, lots, and stop being coy. Now. We’ve settled up all the tag ends of our first case, Watson. But in the general excitement I seem to have forgotten several private matters. Now perhaps you noticed that I dressed up for you this evening? No—? I am disappointed. First the car. Now my best suit. Well, the last time I wore it was when I took my girl friend to the bazaar. And since then, what with one thing and another, I’ve been too busy to go to parties. So—tonight, when I put on my Sunday-go-to-Meeting clothes I fished in my pocket and found a little folded slip of paper—”
    “A clue—in fact the tussie-mussie verse,” Fredericka said at once. “I’d forgotten about it, too, until this afternoon.”
    “Now what brought it into your head this afternoon, I wonder?”
    “Margaret Sutton said I was to ask you for it.”
    “Did she now. Well, here it is, then. I was going to compromise but I won’t. I always do what Margaret tells me to.”
    He handed Fredericka the paper and she leant forward to read it under the dashboard light:
    No man worth getting
    Is easy got
    So don’t ever say die
    And regret