Behind Inspector Hemingway's bright gaze his brain moved swiftly. Once more his excellent memory stood him in good stead. "Christmas decorations: step-ladder!" he said. "Same one Nathaniel fell over on his way up to dinner. Come on!"
Chapter Sixteen
When the uneasy house-party at Lexham arose from the luncheon-table that afternoon, Maud, as usual, went upstairs for her rest, and Mottisfont took possession of the library by the simple expedient of stretching himself out in the easiest armchair and disposing himself to slumber. Paula dragged Roydon away to discuss the casting of Wormwood. Mrs. Dean, in whom the events of the morning had induced a reflective mood, said that she must have a talk with dear Stephen, now that things were so mercifully altered, and suggested that they should go to the morning-room for a cosy little chat. Even Valerie seemed to feel that this was a trifle blatant, for she said frankly: "Oh, Mummy, you are the limit!" Stephen said, with more presence of mind than courtesy, that he was going for a walk with Mathilda, at the same time directing such a menacing look at Mathilda that she meekly acquiesced in this arbitrary plan for her entertainment, and went upstairs to put on a pair of heavy shoes and a thick coat.
They left the house by the garden-room door, and traversing the gardens struck out into the small park. The melting snow had made the ground spongy under their feet; the sky was dull; and the bare tree-branches dripped moisture; but Mathilda drew a long breath, and said: "It's good to get out into the fresh air again. I find the atmosphere in the house rather too oppressive for my taste. Do you think you are definitely in the clear, Stephen?"
"Mrs. Dean does," he replied. "Do you realise that that she-wolf was going to tie me up to Valerie again?"
"Of course, you're such a defenceless creature, aren't you?" she retorted.
"Against battering-rams, I am."
"What did you do it for?" she asked.
"Get engaged to Valerie? I never meant to."
"Little gentleman! A fairly raw deal for her, wasn't it?"