Clouds of Witness Read Free

you so agreeably all down the spine. "Contrast," philosophised Lord Peter sleepily, "is life. Corsica-Paris-then London… Good morning, Bunter."
    "Good morning, my lord. Fine morning, my lord. Your lordship's bath-water is ready."
    "Thanks," said Lord Peter. He blinked at the sunlight.
    It was a glorious bath. He wondered, as he soaked in it, how he could have existed in Corsica. He wallowed happily and sang a few bars of a song. In a soporific interval he heard the valet de chambre bringing in coffee and rolls. Coffee and rolls! He heaved himself out with a splash, towelled himself luxuriously, enveloped his long-mortified body in a silken bathrobe, and wandered back.
    To his immense surprise he perceived Mr. Bunter calmly replacing all the fittings in his dressing-case.
    Another astonished glance showed him the bags-scarcely opened the previous night-repacked, relabelled, and standing ready for a journey.
    "I say, Bunter, what's up?" said his lordship. "We're stayin' here a fortnight y'know."
    "Excuse me, my lord," said Mr. Bunter, deferentially, "but, having seen The Times (delivered here every morning by air, my lord; and very expeditious I'm sure, all things considered), I made no doubt your lordship would be wishing to go to Riddlesdale at-"
    "Riddlesdale!" exclaimed Peter. "What's the matter? Anything wrong with my brother?"
    For answer Mr. Bunter handed him the paper, folded open at the heading:
     
    RIDDLESDALE INQUEST.
    DUKE OF DENVER ARRESTED
    ON MURDER CHARGE.
     
    Lord Peter stared as if hypnotised.
    "I thought your lordship wouldn't wish to miss anything," said Mr. Bunter, "so I took the liberty-"
    Lord Peter pulled himself together.
    "When's the next train?" he asked.
    "I beg your lordship's pardon-I thought your lordship would wish to take the quickest route. I took it on myself to book two seats in the aeroplane Victoria. She starts at 11.30."
    Lord Peter looked at his watch.
    "Ten o'clock," he said. "Very well. You did quite right. Dear me! Poor old Gerald arrested for murder. Uncommonly worryin' for him, poor chap. Always hated my bein' mixed up with police-courts. Now he's there himself. Lord Peter Wimsey in the witness-box-very distressin' to feelin's of a brother. Duke of Denver-the dock-worse still. Dear me! Well, I suppose one must have breakfast."
    "Yes, my lord. Full account of the inquest in the paper, my lord."
    "Yes. Who's on the case, by the way?"
    "Mr Parker, my lord."
    "Parker? That's good. Splendid old Parker! Wonder how he managed to get put on to it. How do things look, Bunter?"
    "If I may say so, my lord, I fancy the investigation will prove very interesting. There are several extremely suggestive points in the evidence, my lord."
    "From a criminological point of view I daresay it is interesting," replied his lordship, sitting down cheerfully to his café au lait , "but it's deuced awkward for my brother, all the same, havin' no turn for criminology, what?"
    "Ah, well-" said Mr. Bunter, "they say, my lord, there's nothing like having a personal interest."
    "The inquest was held to-day at Riddlesdale, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, on the body of Captain Denis Cathcart, which was found at three o'clock on Thursday morning lying just outside the conservatory door of the Duke of Denver's shooting-box, Riddlesdale Lodge. Evidence was given to show that deceased had quarrelled with the Duke of Denver on the preceding evening, and was subsequently shot in a small thicket adjoining the house. A pistol belonging to the Duke was found near the scene of the crime. A verdict of murder was returned against the Duke of Denver. Lady Mary Wimsey, sister of the Duke, who was engaged to be married to the deceased, collapsed after giving evidence, and is now lying seriously ill at the Lodge. The Duchess of Denver hastened from town yesterday and was present at the inquest. Full report on p. 12."
    "Poor old Gerald!" thought Lord Peter, as he turned to Page 12; "and poor old Mary! I wonder if she really was