“Mr. Jackson’s body was sent East,” I said. We lapsed into silence. Presently Corole stirred.
“I’d give you tea but Huldah is in bed with a headache. She went to sleep right after lunch but I suppose is awake by now. I told her not to worry about dinner; I’ll drive in to the Brevair. I’ve been wanting to get out, anyhow, and they say there’s a wonderful new chef there.”
“Well, for goodness’ sake, Corole, don’t make yourself conspicuous. There’s that matter of the revolver at the inquest, you know.”
Corole glanced curiously at me and laughed.
“But my dear, I don’t know a thing about that revolver getting over to St. Ann’s. And I do happen to know that there are other, far more intriguing things, that might bear a little investigation.” She smoothed the flat wave in her hair gently. “A little investigation, at least,” she murmured as if amused, but her expression was not pleasant. Indeed a look in her flat, yellow eyes reminded me that this woman had lived in strange places, had seen strange things, was likely familiar with dark secrets and black rites and primitive passions—product of the twentieth century though she seemed, with her laces and jewels and sophisticated eyebrows. Jungle nights, tom-toms and the word “voodoo” came into my mind—and though I have never been at all sure just what voodoo means, I found my skin crawling.
“I think I’ll go up to see Huldah,” I said, rising abruptly, and feigning a professional interest.
“Do,” said Corole, smiling not at all tenderly into the fire. “You know the way to her room? I’m too lazy to go along.” At my nod she continued indolently: “Huldah highly approves of you, Sarah. She has never quite trusted me, you know.” She laughed again.
I found Huldah very drowsy and her headache worse.
“It is on account of the cloudy weather,” I said, and we talked for some moments very pleasurably of our experiences with neuralgia; my own were much more interesting than Huldah’s but I listened forbearingly to her tale.
“I felt better for awhile after Miss Letheny gave me some medicine she has,” went on Huldah. “I went right off to sleep. She gives it into your arm so it doesn’t take long to——”