Appleby's Other Story Read Free Page B

heard of me, and be imagining I am still on an active list. I am not. And, even if I were, such an affair as this wouldn’t remotely come my way. My presence here is totally fortuitous.’
    â€˜Your reputation is known to me, I confess. But perhaps, Sir John, I am under a misapprehension as to why Colonel Pride and yourself have arrived together, hard upon this grim news.’
    â€˜I think you are. When we arrived at Elvedon just now, neither Pride nor I had a notion of Tytherton’s being dead. Haven’t I made that clear to you already, Mr Voysey? Quite literally, we came to pay a call.’
    â€˜I see, I see. But at least Pride is now the responsible man. And if he does interest you in the mystery, after all–’
    â€˜The mystery?’
    â€˜I think it will certainly turn out to be that, Sir John. If he does interest you in it, I shall be relieved. I don’t know that I greatly care for these people.’ Voysey made a gesture as if to embrace Elvedon Court at large. ‘But they are in my care, are they not? In a pastoral sense, that is.’
    â€˜No doubt.’
    â€˜And I would not like to see some miscarriage of justice befall.’
    â€˜You have positive reason to fear something of the kind?’
    â€˜It is like this, Sir John.’ Voysey paused, as if to collect himself. If there was something mildly eccentric about him, he seemed nevertheless entirely serious. ‘They are a curious crowd. Some of their relations would have to be described, I fear, as not wholly edifying.’
    â€˜The household here at Elvedon?’
    â€˜That – and some of their acquaintance. My fear is that the local police will simply seize upon whatever happens to be the first thing to turn up, and perhaps pursue it to the exclusion of so much as noticing others.’
    â€˜I think they can be relied upon to take a pretty comprehensive view. Police are famous, Mr Voysey, for leaving no avenues unexplored.’
    â€˜It may be so. But take, for instance, Mark.’
    â€˜I beg your pardon?’
    â€˜Mark Tytherton, the dead man’s son, and his heir.’
    â€˜Who lives in Argentina, and never visits England?’
    â€˜Quite so. I perceive you have already been making inquiries.’
    â€˜Nothing of the kind, sir.’ Appleby was annoyed. ‘Pride has merely given me some account of the family as we drove over.’
    â€˜Ah, to be sure. But my point is the possibly prejudicial character of the coincidence of Maurice Tytherton’s death with his son turning up at long last. For he has turned up. And that’s not all. But perhaps, Sir John, you judge me importunate – that I am unwarrantably obtruding these matters upon you?’
    â€˜It would be uncommonly hard to say that you were not. But, having got so far, we’d better go on. Just where has Mark Tytherton turned up, and what do you mean by speaking of his return as “not all”?’
    â€˜I mean the clandestine character of the thing. A couple of days ago I simply came upon him in the park. My identification of him was most positive, but he was aware of me only as a passer-by. I have since made discreet inquiries, and know that he has not shown up at the house.’
    â€˜I see.’ Appleby paused, and looked hard at the vicar. ‘Well, that is information which you must give to the officers in charge of the present inquiry.’
    â€˜I am afraid you are right.’ Voysey paused in his turn. ‘If I didn’t know it was my duty to tell them , it is improbable I should be telling you . And I hope I have made my general position clear.’
    â€˜What I think you are telling me is this: the situation here at Elvedon is such that any one of quite a variety of causes may lie behind its owner’s violent death, and that they should all be investigated before any conclusion is arrived at. In particular, we shouldn’t be too impressed by what sounds a very