The Affair of the Mutilated Mink Read Free

in—'
    Haggermeir again broke in, 'You needn't bother with the rest.'
    Rex looked up and grinned. 'Well, I'm sure flattered. And you figure the fact that I'm going to be in the picture will persuade his lordship to let you shoot it at Alderley?'
    'That's part of it, but there's a bit more to it. We gotta convince her ladyship as well.'
    'Who does not share his enthusiasm.'
    'Exactly. And I been reading up about her. She sounds a tartar - and real crazy about that house. Then there's a daughter, Lady Geraldine. She's a live wire, always in the gossip columns. Very much a mind of her own, too. That's the first point. Second is that I gotta check the house for suitability before actually committing myself to shooting there: make sure there are no snags — things that don't show up in the photos. So what I thought I'd do is write and ask if I can come and make a feasibility study for a day or two, bringing my leading man, Rex Ransom. That should make sure the Earl don't say no out of hand. Then if the place does turn out to be OK, it'll be your job to put all the famous Ransom charm into persuading the old dame to agree. OK with you?'
    'Sure it is. It'd be dandy to stay in a genuine old English country house. Should be real relaxing.'
     
    * * *
     
    'Good gad!' Lord Burford goggled at the letter he was holding.
    Lady Burford glanced up sharply from The Tatler . 'What is the matter, George?'
    The Earl gazed at her, wide-eyed with excitement. 'Rex Ransom wants to come here?'
    'Who?'
    'Rex Ransom, Lavinia. The film star!'
    'Oh.' The Countess was unimpressed. 'Why?'
    'To look over the house.'
    'What's to prevent him? Plenty of open days. I suppose he can afford two shillings.'
    'You don't understand. He — or rather his producer, this fellow who's written the letter, er, Haggermeir - wants to come here with Rex and go all over it, examine it at length.'
    'What on earth for?'
    'You'll never guess.' Lord Burford seemed to have swollen visibly with pride. 'It's a tremendous honour.'
    'Oh, I suppose he wants to make one of those absurd talkies here. Really, the insolence of these people!'
    The Earl's jaw dropped. 'Eh?'
    'Naturally, you will write and tell him that it's not convenient.'
    Lord Burford gave a squawk of dismay. 'I can't do that! Turn away Rex Ransom? When I've just been made Honorary President of the Westchester Film Society?'
    'Oh, dear. Well, I suppose if you want the man here you'll have to have him. But only him. We can't have this Hog man crawling all over the place, treating it like some second-rate film studio.'
    'I can hardly write to the chap and say Ransom can come but not him. It would be most insultin'.'
    Lady Burford sighed. 'I suppose you're right. But you must make it clear that filming here is out of the question.'
    'Yes, yes, of course, my dear. I will - er, after they arrive.'
     
    * * *
     
    The telephone buzzed in Cyrus Haggermeir's suite at the Ritz Hotel in London. He lifted the receiver. 'Yep?'
    'This is the desk, sir. There is a — a gentleman wishing to see you. A Mr Arlington Gilbert. His business relates to your forthcoming motion picture.'
    'OK, I'll give him five minutes. Send him up.'
    Three minutes later there was a loud and peremptory rapping on the door. Haggermeir opened it. Then he blinked. The man standing on the threshold was over six feet tall and of considerable girth. His hair was long. He was wearing a tartan cloak over a black and somewhat grubby polo sweater; black and white check trousers; and on his feet sandals over mauve socks. In his hand he was clutching a newspaper.
    For a moment Haggermeir stared at the visitor, then said, 'Er, good day. Mr Arlington Gilbert?'
    'I have that honour.'
    He had a deep and plummy voice. Then, uninvited, he stepped into the room, almost forcing Haggermeir to stand aside. With a swirl of his cloak he swung round and gazed at Haggermeir. His expression was of a man looking at some interesting but rather repulsive exhibit in a museum.
    Haggermeir