Free The Imbroglio at the Villa Pozzi (An Angela Marchmont Mystery Book 6) by Clara Benson Page A

no reply.
    ‘Well—’ began Mrs. Quinn, but was unable to finish as the planchette suddenly sprang to life and began to spell something out rapidly. All eyes were upon it as it moved across the board and paused for a split second at each letter, then came to a halt. There was an embarrassed silence, then Elsa began to giggle uncontrollably.
    ‘That was very rude of you, Thutmose,’ said Mrs. Quinn. ‘I’ve told you before not to use words like that in front of the ladies. I won’t speak to you any more if you’re going to be like that.’ She picked up the planchette and set it firmly on its back. ‘Well, that wasn’t much help, was it?’ she said. ‘I’m sorry about that, but sometimes it does happen, I’m afraid.’
    Angela was also having great difficulty in keeping a straight face.
    ‘Not to worry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t really have much hope, to be perfectly honest.’
    Mrs. Quinn rubbed her chin.
    ‘I don’t like leaving a client with nothing to show for our efforts,’ she said, ‘but when Thutmose is in that kind of mood there’s not much I can do with regards to speaking to the dear departed. I know it’s not the same, but I could read your cards if you like. A lot of people look down on fortune-telling but it can be useful sometimes.’
    ‘Very well, then,’ said Angela, who thought she may as well experience all the services on offer while she was there.
    Mrs. Quinn delved into her bag again and brought out a crumpled and greasy pack of playing-cards that looked as though they had seen better days. She handed them to Angela.
    ‘Now, dear, give them a good shuffle if you please, and then cut them,’ she said.
    Angela did as she was instructed, and then Mrs. Quinn took the cards and laid them out in three rows of three. She turned over the first row and regarded the cards closely, muttering to herself.
    ‘Now, this represents your past,’ she said. ‘Here, the cards tell us where you have come from and the events leading up to your present situation. Now you see there the Five of Diamonds. That means happiness and success, or it can refer to the birth of a child. You don’t have children, I suppose?’
    Angela shook her head.
    ‘Well, then, you have had success in the past, perhaps in business. But here is the Two of Spades. Spades are bad luck, in general. This one’s a bad card. It denotes deceit or separation. Someone in your past has deceived you.’
    ‘That’s true,’ agreed Angela, and indeed it was true enough, although the same might be said of most people, she thought.
    ‘Hmm. Hmm. Ten of Diamonds. Money. No surprise there,’ said Mrs. Quinn almost to herself. ‘Now, let’s look at your present situation,’ she went on, and turned over the second row of cards. ‘Jack of Clubs. Have you an admirer, Mrs. Marchmont?’
    ‘I don’t think so,’ said Angela, and exchanged glances with Elsa, who raised her eyebrows.
    ‘Then it must refer to a friend,’ said Mrs. Quinn, and went on, ‘Three of Hearts. You must think twice before giving your heart.’
    ‘Excellent advice at all times,’ said Elsa.
    ‘Eight of Diamonds,’ continued Mrs. Quinn. ‘That means travel and a new love. Well, the travel part is right enough.’
    ‘So it is,’ said Angela. So far she was not especially impressed by the reading, which seemed to be very vague, and might apply to almost anybody.
    ‘And it looks as though you’re going to fall in love, too, Angela,’ said Elsa slyly. ‘Who shall it be? My money’s on Mr. D’Onofrio.’
    ‘He seems pleasant enough, certainly,’ replied Angela, ‘but I shall try and resist him if I possibly can, since I don’t think his wife and seven children would be particularly happy about it.’
    They all laughed and Mrs. Quinn began turning over the last three cards.
    ‘Now, these represent your future. Dear me,’ she said, as the last spread revealed a row of Spades. ‘Dear me.’
    Angela had no time to ask her what she meant when her