Free Spider's Web by Agatha Christie Page A

two pairs, handed one pair to Hugo, and they both put them on. Sir Rowland went over to the panel. “How does this thing open?” he asked.
    Jeremy went across to join him. “Like this, sir,” he said. “Pippa showed me.” He moved the lever and opened the panel.
    Sir Rowland looked into the recess, reached in, and brought out the walking-stick. “Yes, it's heavy enough,” he commented. “Weighted in the head. All the same, I shouldn't have thought...” He paused.
    “What wouldn't you have thought?” Hugo wanted to know.
    Sir Rowland shook his head. “I should have thought,” he replied, “that it would have to have been something with a sharper edge – metal of some kind.”
    “You mean a goddamn chopper,” Hugo observed bluntly.
    “I don't know,” Jeremy interjected. “That stick looks pretty murderous to me. You could easily crack a man's head open with that.”
    “Evidently,” said Sir Rowland drily. He turned to Hugo and handed him the stick. “Hugo, will you burn this in the kitchen stove, please,” he instructed him. Then, addressing Jeremy, he continued, “Warrender, you and I will get the body to the car.”
    He and Jeremy bent down on either side of the body. As they did so, a bell suddenly rang. “What's that?” Sir Rowland exclaimed, startled.
    “It's the front-door bell,” said Clarissa, sounding bewildered. They all stood petrified for a moment. “Who can it be?” Clarissa wondered aloud. “It's much too early for Henry and – er – Mr. Jones. It must be Sir John.”
    “Sir John?” asked Sir Rowland, now sounding even more startled. “You mean the Prime Minister is expected here this evening?”
    “Yes,” Clarissa replied.
    “Hm.” Sir Rowland looked momentarily undecided. Then, “Yes,” he murmured. “Well, we've got to do something.” The bell rang again, and he stirred into action. “Clarissa,” he ordered, “go and answer the door. Use whatever delaying tactics you can think of. In the meantime, we'll clear up in here.”
    Clarissa went quickly out to the hall, and Sir Rowland turned to Hugo and Jeremy. “Now then,” he explained urgently, “this is what we do. We'll get him into that recess. Later, when everyone's in this room having their pow-wow, we can take him out through the library.”
    “Good idea,” Jeremy agreed, as he helped Sir Rowland lift the body.
    “Want me to give you a hand?” asked Hugo.
    “No, it's all right,” Jeremy replied. He and Sir Rowland supported Costello's body under the armpits and carried it into the recess, while Hugo picked up the torch. A moment or two later, Sir Rowland emerged from the recess and pressed the lever as Jeremy hastened out behind him. Hugo quickly slipped under Jeremy's arm into the recess with the torch and stick. The panel then closed.
    Sir Rowland, after examining his jacket for signs of blood, murmured, “Gloves,” removed the gloves he was wearing, and put them under a cushion on the sofa. Jeremy removed his gloves and did likewise. Then, “Bridge,” Sir Rowland reminded himself, as he hastened to the bridge table and sat.
    Jeremy ran to the bridge table, sat, and picked up his cards. “Come along, Hugo, make haste,” Sir Rowland urged as he picked up his own cards.
    He was answered by a knock from inside the recess. Suddenly realizing that Hugo was not in the room, Sir Rowland and Jeremy looked at each other in alarm. Jeremy got up, rushed to the switch and opened the panel. “Come along, Hugo,” Sir Rowland repeated urgently as Hugo emerged. “Quickly, Hugo,” Jeremy muttered impatiently, closing the panel again.
    Sir Rowland took Hugo's gloves from him and put them under the cushion. The three men took their seats quickly at the bridge table and picked up their cards, just as Clarissa came back into the room from the hall, followed by two men in uniform.
    In a tone of innocent surprise, Clarissa announced, “It's the police, Uncle Roly.”

Spider's Web

CHAPTER TEN
    THE OLDER of the