“I think we might stay up in town this evening and do a dinner and a show, don’t you?” he said cheerfully. “I feel as if I want a little relaxation after my strenuous mental efforts of the last two days.”
Something seemed to be troubling Alec.
“You know,” he said awkwardly, “somehow I can’t help wondering. Are you really sure, Roger, that it wouldn’t be best for me to go and tell the police? I mean, it isn’t as if they’d have me up for a murder or anything like that; nothing worse than manslaughter, I should imagine. And I daresay I should get off altogether on the self-defence idea. But are you sure it isn’t really the right thing to do?”
Roger gazed down at his companion with disfavour.
“For heaven’s sake, Alec, do try sometimes not to be so disgustingly conventional!” he said scornfully.
The End
Transcriber’s Notes
The Layton Court Mystery was first published anonymously in 1926, the author being identified only as “?”. This transcription follows the text of the edition published by Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc. in 1929 (which identifes the author as Anthony Berkeley). The following alterations have been made to correct what are believed to be unambiguous errors in the text:
- “enploymemt” to “employment” (Chapter XIV);
- “Alter all” to “After all” (Chapter XVI);
- “acquiesence” to “acquiescence” (Chapter XXV);
- “whoseever” to “whosoever” (Chapter XXVIII);
- “overwheleming” to “overwhelming” (Chapter XXVIII).