Dumb Witness (Hercule Poirot 16) - Page 2

Emily Arundell said “Bob!” sharply and passed on.

In the greengrocer’s there was a meeting of heavenly bodies. Another old lady, spherical in outline, but equally distinguished by that air of royalty, said:

“Mornin’, Emily.”

“Good morning, Caroline.”

Caroline Peabody said:

“Expecting any of your young people down?”

“Yes, all of them. Theresa, Charles and Bella.”

“So Bella’s home, is she? Husband too?”

“Yes.”

It was a simple monosyllable, but underlying it was knowledge common to both ladies.

For Bella Biggs, Emily Arundell’s niece, had married a Greek. And Emily Arundell’s people, who were what is known as “all service people,” simply did not marry Greeks.

By way of being obscurely comforting (for of course such a matter could not be referred to openly) Miss Peabody said:

“Bella’s husband’s got brains. And charming manners!”

“His manners are delightful,” agreed Miss Arundell.

Moving out into the street Miss Peabody asked:

“What’s this about Theresa being engaged to young Donaldson?”

Miss Arundell shrugged her shoulders.

“Young people are so casual nowadays. I’m afraid it will have to be a rather long engagement—that is, if anything comes of it. He has no money.”

“Of course Theresa has her own money,” said Miss Peabody.

Miss Arundell said stiffly:

“A man could not possibly wish to live on his wife’s money.”

Miss Peabody gave a rich, throaty chuckle.

“They don’t seem to mind doing it, nowadays. You and I are out of date, Emily. What I can’t understand is what the child sees in him. Of all the namby-pamby young men!”

“He’s a clever doctor, I believe.”

“Those pince-nez—and that stiff way of talking! In my young days we’d have called him a poor stick!”

There was a pause while Miss Peabody’s memory, diving into the past, conjured up visions of dashing, bewhiskered young men….

She said with a sigh:

“Send that young dog Charles along to see me—if he’ll come.”

“Of course. I’ll tell him.”

The two ladies parted.

Tags: Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot Mystery
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