Free Silence in Court by Patricia Wentworth Page A

afterwards, and upon what Magda Brayle overheard. What is not in dispute is that Mrs. Maquisten was in a state of excitement and anger, and that she ordered Carey to ring up Mr. Aylwin and command his immediate attendance with a view to altering her will. That Carey demurred is certain. The loud, deep voice was raised and the command repeated. There is really no difficulty in believing that Magda, in the bathroom beyond the communicating door, could hear not only that command but a good deal more. In the end Carey rang up Mr. Aylwin’s office, to be told that he was out of town for a couple of days. With the receiver still at her ear, she turned to repeat the information. She met blazing eyes and an imperious look.
    â€œAsk where he is! He must come back!”
    The telephone muttered. Carey turned again.
    â€œThey say he’s in Scotland. He won’t be back till late tomorrow night.”
    Honoria Maquisten beat with her hand upon the bed.
    â€œYou think you can get me to put it off, do you? But you can’t—nobody can! Who are you talking to? Ask for the managing clerk, Mr. Hood! Tell him to come round at once! At once, I say! And he’s to bring my last will with him—the one I signed the other day!”
    The message delivered, Carey turned again. “That was Mr. Hood speaking. He says he will come round as soon as he can, but your will is in the safe and Mr. Aylwin has the keys.”
    All this conversation could be heard in the office, and is not in dispute. Carey rang off, and after a little went up to her room to take off her things. It was then a little after three.
    Ernest Hood arrived and was shown up to Mrs. Maquisten’s room at half past three. He remained for three quarters of an hour.
    At half past four Nora Hull ran in for a cup of tea, leaving her car outside. She was in a hurry as she had to take General Ferguson out of town and they both hoped to be back in reasonable time for dinner—“He’s just round the corner seeing another brass hat, and I’m to pick him up in twenty minutes, so you’ll have to fly, Molly.” To which Molly replied that tea was just going in to Mrs. Maquisten’s room, and that Mrs. Maquisten wanted to see either Mrs. Hull or Miss Honor, whichever came in first—“And I was to say it was very particular.”
    Twenty minutes later Nora banged out of the house again. She had certainly drunk at least one cup of tea, but neither she nor Mrs. Maquisten had eaten anything.
    Carey had a cup of tea in the study, and found it bitter to her taste. She heard Nora’s noisy departure—“Gosh, I’ll be late!”—and the slam of the door, and a little later on a much quieter opening of the same door, and Molly, evidently on the watch—“Oh, Miss Honor, please go up to Mrs. Maquisten at once.”
    She heard these things because she had set the door ajar to listen for Dennis. But it was not till six o’clock that Dennis came home.
    Carey had meant to go out to him, but when the moment came she couldn’t do it. She had waited too long, the shadow lay too heavy on her. She was tired, and cold, and frightened. She heard him cross the hall, and then the slow tap of his crutch moving from step to step as he went up the stairs.
    It was nearly half past six before he came down again.
    â€œWell, well—” he said, and then he let himself down into his chair with a twisted smile. He got his foot up on to the leg-rest, dropped his crutch on the floor, and said “Some shemozzle! You look battered, darling. We don’t take them as seriously as that, you know. She’ll calm down.”
    â€œIs she—any better?”
    He laughed.
    â€œNot noticeably. What did she say to you?”
    Carey pressed her hands together.
    â€œShe sent for me. Molly said she had a letter, but I don’t know what was in it, or who it was from. When I got there she was all worked up. She said she