Free The Affair of the Mutilated Mink by James Anderson Page B

short of it was that he arrived home early in 1852 and was quickly reconciled with his father. The old man died six mouths later, and Aylwin succeeded to the title as tenth Earl. That's just about the whole story.'
    There was silence for a few seconds before Paul said, 'But what happened to him? What did he do for the rest of his life?'
    'Nothing much. Ran the estate, became a pillar of the Tory party, took his seat in the House of Lords.'
    'Whom did he marry?' Cecily asked.
    'One guess.'
    'Not Lady Mary?'
    'The same. She'd waited for him and she was only twenty-eight or -nine when he came home. I think they were very happy. Had four children, my father being the eldest. Sorry if the end's a bit of an anticlimax.'
    At that moment Merryweather entered. He approached the Earl. 'My lord, the window of the Grey bedroom has been boarded up.'
    'Oh, fine.'
    'No bird's body was discovered outside, but there were some more feathers.'
    'I see.'
    'And a thought has just occurred to me, my lord. The burglar alarm: I fear it will be impossible to turn it on. The contact will have been broken when the window was smashed. If the current is now switched on, the alarm bell will be automatically activated.'
    'Lor', I suppose you're right. Oh, well, can't be helped.'
    Merryweather departed and Lord Burford hastened to explain to his guests. 'Few years ago we had a very complex alarm system installed - too complex, really. Supposed to be foolproof, but it means that after it's switched on you can't open an outside door, or any window more than two inches, without setting it off. In fact, your bedroom windows have got stops fixed, though they can be forced easily enough in an emergency. However, as it would be pretty inconvenient if nobody could go outside during the evening without setting off the alarm, we don't usually switch the system on till the very last moment. Tonight, though, seems we won't be switching on at all.'
    'Well, at least the burglars don't know,' said Gerry. 'That's the main thing.'
     
    * * *
     
    It was when the party was breaking up two hours later that Rex drew Lord Burford aside. 'In view of what's happened, I wonder: could you lock some money in your safe for me?'
    'Of course — delighted. Go and get it now. I'll wait for you in my study.'
    Three minutes later Rex entered the study to find Lord Burford ready with the safe open. He took a bulging billfold from his pocket and handed it to the Earl, who raised his eyebrows. 'Quite a bundle here, by the feel of it.'
    'Something over two thousand pounds.'
    'Great Scott! D'you always carry that much cash around with you?'
    'Mostly. Psychological thing, I suppose. Makes me feel secure. Didn't always have a lot of dough. And I'm a country boy, raised not to trust banks. Don't mention it to Cyrus, will you? He thinks I'm crazy enough already.'
    'Oh, shan't tell a soul.' Lord Burford put the billfold in the safe, closed the door and spun the combination knob. Together they left the room.

Chapter Seven
    Cyrus Haggermeir looked at his watch, wound up his tape measure, left the room on the top floor of Alderley and made his way down to his bedroom. He went in - and stopped. Sitting in the room's only chair was Laura. In her hands was the script of The King's Man . She looked up with a smile.
    'Do forgeev me, Meesta Haggermeir. I thought I would like to see the screenplay of the movie. I was going to ask to borrow it, but as you weren't here I deed not like to take it away.'
    'Oh, that's OK.' He took his camera from around his neck and put it down.
    'Will you be wanting this tonight, or may I take it to my room to feenish it?'
    'You understand that's only the old silent version?'
    'Of course, but the plot of the sound version will not be much deefferent, will it? Though naturally I understand that it will have to be, er - what you say - adapted to feet me.'
    'Ah. Yeah.' Then he said a little awkwardly: 'Signorina, I, er - well, I'm not sure I can use you on this movie.'
    She drew in