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said with irony and confusion in his voice.
 I don t have much respect for the man, but I do for the office,
Pitt snapped.  But that isn t the point.
Narraway opened his eyes wide.  Blackmail is a filthy crime.
 Not blackmail, Pitt said tartly.  Treason.
 Treason? Then in a flash of fire in the mind, Narraway under-
stood.  Of course. We charge him and try him for treason. Secrets of
the State a closed court. Thank you, Pitt. I am profoundly obliged.
Pitt smiled, the blood warming his face again.
Gracie gave a long sigh of relief.
 Who killed the poor woman in the linen cupboard? Narraway
asked almost casually.
 God knows, Pitt admitted.  Maybe He is the only one who ever
will. She might be just some murder victim of the night.
 Exactly like the one in Africa? Narraway asked sarcastically.
 Who the hell brought her?
 I ve no idea.
Narraway raised his eyebrows.  I imagine you would like to find
out?
 Yes, I would. First I would like to go and release Sorokine. Pitt
smiled.  I d take help for Dunkeld, if I were you. He s a big man with
a very violent temper.
Narraway looked at him coldly.  I have no intention of going
alone, Pitt! Do you take me for an idiot?
They reached the door together, then Pitt turned to Gracie.
 Which one do you want to see? he asked.  You deserve to take your
choice.
B U C K I N G H A M P A L A C E G A R D E N S 287
 Thanks, she said primly.  I think as I ll come with you and tell
Mr. Sorokine  e s free.  E were real nice ter me. Let me read in a book
by Oscar Wilde, like I were a real sort o person as could understand
it.
 You are, Pitt told her.  How perceptive of him. When we get
home, I shall buy you a copy for yourself.
 Thank you, she accepted.
They went downstairs together and found Mr. Tyndale, who gave
them the key to Julius s room.
 I m very glad, sir, he said gravely.  Mr. Sorokine was always very
civil. He glanced only briefly at Gracie, confused now as to exactly
what her status was.
She avoided his eyes too, so as not to make it even harder for him.
Up the stairs again Pitt knocked on Julius s door, then opened it
and went in.
 Your courtesy is very pleasant, if a trifle absurd, Julius said qui-
etly. He was fully dressed but ashen-faced. His hands were clenched
by his sides and he stood so stiffly he swayed very little, concentrating
on keeping his composure.
Pitt held out the door key in his open hand, offering it.
 I apologize, Mr. Sorokine. I am now perfectly certain that your
account of events was a true one. I regret the extreme distress you
have been caused.
Julius stared at him, then at the key in his hand. Then slowly he
reached for it, took it and held it, smoothing his fingers over it as if to
assure himself it was real. Then he looked up at Pitt again.
 Cahoon? he asked hoarsely.  Why? He s the only one of us who
couldn t have killed the poor woman.
Very briefly Pitt explained the main outline of the case to him.
Julius sat down on the bed.  God Almighty! He breathed out the
words so they sounded more like a prayer than a blasphemy.
 If you will excuse me, sir, I need to go and help Mr. Narraway.
Arresting Mr. Dunkeld may not be easy. If there is anything you
need, Gracie will get it for you.
Gracie moved forward.  Yes, sir, she said with great satisfaction.
  Ow about a nice fresh cup o tea, an a toasted tea cake with cur-
rants in it an butter?
288 A N N E P E R R Y
Julius smiled, but there were tears in his eyes.  Thank you, he
said huskily.  I ll admit, luncheon wasn t much. I d like that . . . before
I . . . join the others.
She went to make it herself, choosing the tea cake with the most
currants and sultanas, and being generous with the butter. When she
took it up to him, he was delighted and ate the tea cake as if it was the
first food he had tasted with any pleasure for days.
She glanced over to the bedside table and saw Oscar Wilde s book
open on it.
He saw her look.  Would you like it? he offered.
 I couldn t! she said intently, blushing that he had caught her
looking at it.
 Yes, you could, he replied.  I can get another one. I would like
you to have it. I have something to celebrate. Let me make a gift of it
to you. He reached out his hand, then saw the butter on his fingers
and smiled ruefully.  Just take it. Please?
She picked it up, holding it tight.  Thank you, sir.
He was still smiling.
Pi tt and Narraway found Cahoon Dunkeld with the Prince
of Wales. They were obliged to wait until he had finished his discus-
sion and was walking back alone along the corridor toward his own
room. They caught up with him at the door and followed him in, to
his intense annoyance.
 What the devil s the matter with you? he demanded, spinning
round to face them, his face twisted with fury.
Narraway closed the door behind him.  Naturally, as Special
Branch, we do not have the authority to arrest anyone, but in these
unusual circumstances, I am obliged to make an exception.
 Good, Cahoon snapped.  You do not need my permission. Get
on with it!
 I know I do not need your permission, Narraway replied tartly.
 Cahoon Dunkeld, I am arresting you for the murder of Wilhelmina
Sorokine. You will be 
Cahoon s face turned scarlet.  Her husband killed her, he said
between clenched teeth.  If you seek to avoid your duty and blame
B U C K I N G H A M P A L A C E G A R D E N S 289
this on me, I shall speak to the Prince and have you dismissed. And
don t doubt he can do it.
 Probably, Narraway conceded with a tight smile.  But he won t,
not since he knows that you had a dead prostitute brought in and dis-
emboweled in the Queen s bed, in order to blackmail him for the rest
of his life. He will resent that I can assure you.
 Rubbish! You re hysterical, Cahoon said with disgust, but his
voice was slurred and his hands were clenched till the knuckles
shone.
 No, Mr. Dunkeld, Minnie was hysterical when she put all the
pieces together. She saw the Limoges dish in your luggage; she knew
the one in the Queen s room had been broken; but you must have
known in advance that it would be, or why bring one identical? She
knew the box came in and went out with the same weight in it, and
there were very few new books on Africa, if any at all. And she knew
you: your nature, your courage, and your arrogance. And you knew
that she would want a price for her silence, possibly the clearing of
her husband from blame. Profoundly as you loved her, you could not
afford to let her ruin you and she would have.
Cahoon stared at him.  You can t prove that, he said at last.
 None of it.
 Yes, Narraway said, glancing only for a second at Pitt, knowing
he could not afford to take his eyes from Cahoon for any longer than [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]