Убийство на поле для гольфа
8. An Unexpected Meeting
Whatwouldshehavesaidofthisstrangemodernproductofgirlhood?Theprettyfacewiththepaintandpowder,andtheghoulishmindbehind!
“Comeoffyourhighhorse,”saidtheladysuddenly.“Anddon’tgiveyourselfairs.Whenyougotcalledtothisjob,didyouputyournoseintheairandsayitwasanastybusiness,andyouwouldn’tbemixedupinit?”
“No,but—”
“Ifyou’dbeenhereonaholiday,wouldn’tyoubenosingroundjustthesameasIam?Ofcourseyouwould.”
“I’maman.You’reawoman.”
“Yourideaofawomanissomeonewhogetsonachairandshrieksifsheseesamouse.That’sallprehistoric.Butyouwillshowmeround,won’tyou?Yousee,itmightmakeabigdifferencetome.”
“Inwhatway?”
“They’rekeepingallthereportersout.Imightmakeabigscoopwithoneofthepapers.Youdon’tknowhowmuchtheypayforabitofinsidestuff.”
Ihesitated.Sheslippedasmallsofthandintomine.
“Please—there’sadear.”
Icapitulated.Secretly,IknewthatIshouldratherenjoythepartofshowman.Afterall,themoralattitudedisplayedbythegirlwasnoneofmybusiness.Iwasalittlenervousastowhattheexaminingmagistratemightsay,butIreassuredmyselfbythereflectionthatnoharmcouldpossiblybedone.
Werepairedfirsttothespotwherethebodyhadbeendiscovered.Amanwasonguardthere,whosalutedrespectfully,knowingmebysight,andraisednoquestionastomycompanion.Presumablyheregardedherasvouchedforbyme.
