"Babson, Marion - Miss Petunia's Last Case" - читать интересную книгу автора (Babson Marion)

MISS PETUNIA'S LAST CASE
by
Marian Babson

Another delightfully off-the-wall and witty crime novel from the
ever-popular Marian Babson.

MISS PETUNIA'S LAST CASE

Marian Babson

To ELIZABETH WALTER who read them all

1

CHAPTER TWENTY

Miss Petunia Pettifogg adjusted her gold-rimmed pince-nez and surveyed
the tea table with deep satisfaction. "I see that our invaluable Mrs
Bloggs has outdone herself again," she remarked to her sister. "Jam
sponge. Lily began lifting the little white muslin tents covering the
dishes to display the treasures hidden beneath. "Scones, crumpets,
walnut bread ... woman must have been baking all day."

Miss Petunia closed her eyes briefly and inhaled the delicious
fragrances. All part of the comfort and delight of coming home to their
dear Blossom Cottage after a tedious and exhausting day in London trying
to convince the singularly obtuse hierarchy at New Scotland Yard that
there had, indeed, been yet another murder in the deceptively rural and
peaceful village of St Waldemar Boniface.

"Let's eat," Lily said, tilting the teapot and beginning to pour. "But
... where's Marigold?" Miss Petunia looked around for her youngest
sister.

"Off on some mysterious errand of her own," Lily said. "Don't know how
long she'll be. No point waiting for her."

Even as Lily spoke, they heard the sound of footsteps running down the
path to Blossom Cottage and the quick scrape of a key in the lock. Then
the front door slammed on loud and obnoxious shouting which came to
them, unfortunately, all too clearly.

"Come back out here!" a male voice howled. "And I'll alo yer! Come out
and I'll show yer what it's for!"

Another door slammed and Marigold was suddenly in the room with them,
leaning against the door, her red-gold curls dancing, her bright blue
eyes sparkling with the merriment of the chase.