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

"Oh, dear!" She tossed her head impishly. "I'm rather afraid poor
Colonel Battersby is overrefreshed again."

"You mean the drunken sot is drunk again!" her sister Lily growled
tigerishly. "You must stop encouraging these vulgarians. One day you'll
go too far."

"I was merely following your instructions," Marigold pouted.

"I was questioning him - very subtly - about the strange disappearance
of his sister-in-law, the cyanide in his wife's cocoa, the bonfire which
destroyed any evidence that might have been hidden in the compost pile
and the reason why there were bloodstains on his knitted silk tie when,
for no reason at all, he suddenly got very upset and began shouting at
me."

"So you came home immediately," Miss Petunia said. "How very sensible of
you." Outside, the shouting died to sporadic sulky outbursts.

"I most certainly did not desert my post that easily," Marigold said
indignantly. "I went to the bar and bought him another drink. When I
came back, he seemed quite reasonable and we had a pleasant little talk.
He asked me how much I was insured for. Then, before I could answer, he
said no matter how much it was, it wasn't enough." She frowned
thoughtfully. "I hadn't realized that Colonel Battersby had taken to
selling life insurance as a sideline."

"He's sly, that man," Lily growled. "Sly and dangerous. As too many
women in this village have found out ... too late."

"He's gone very quiet suddenly." Miss Petunia felt a strange flutter of
apprehension.

"Perhaps he's fallen asleep," Marigold giggled. "Passed out, you mean,"
Lily said, lighting another cigarette. "Oh, my dear, I wish you
wouldn't." Miss Petunia was moved

to make one of her rare protests. "You don't want to shorten your life."

"Be quiet!" Lily ordered roughly.

"It's only for your own good, dear." Miss Petunia was hurt. "Not that,
Pet -" Lily gestured towards the front of the house.

"I mean, listen . . "Yes, I can hear something!" Marigold gasped, her
eyes widening. "It's the car! Of course, I took the keys away from him
because he was in no fit condition to drive. That was when he got upset
all over again. Then I threw the keys into the bushes when he was
gaining on me, in order to distract him. He must have found them and
gone back for the car. Oh, I hope he doesn't kill someone!"