"Jo Walton - Farthing" - читать интересную книгу автора (Walton Jo)

key from her unresisting hand. тАЬIтАЩll be sure to lock them behind me now, and to see that this key is
returned to you later. WeтАЩll also need to interview you and your familyтАФdoes your husband sleep at
home?тАЭ

тАЬJem?тАЭ she asked, as if he might mean some other husband. He smiled at the thought that a bigamist
might ask that question that way. тАЬYes, he does, he sleeps down here.тАЭ

тАЬAnd did you see any signs of anarchists last night? Any unusual cars?

тАЬWell, yes,тАЭ she said, very flustered now and twisting her apron in her fingers. тАЬAny number of them. But
they were having a party. People were to-ing and fro-ing all the time. WhoтАЩs to say who any of them
were? Half of them could have been terrorists and assassins and we wouldnтАЩt know.тАЭ

CarmichaelтАЩs heart sank at the thought of the work involved. тАЬA party?тАЭ he repeated.

тАЬWell, yes,тАЭ Betty said. тАЬA garden party in the afternoon, and then dinner and a dance in the evening,
some weekend guests and some just coming in for the festivities. ThatтАЩs the usual way when Lady
MargaretтАЩs entertaining.тАЭ

тАЬHow many people?тАЭ Carmichael asked.

Betty shook her head. тАЬI couldnтАЩt say. Maybe not so many as sometimes.тАЭ

тАЬDid you hear cars arriving after you went to bed?тАЭ Royston asked. тАЬYou might have seen lights on your
bedroom ceiling.тАЭ

тАЬOh yes, ever so many,тАЭ Betty agreed promptly.
Carmichael was wiser in the ways of the country than Royston. тАЬWhat time did you go to bed?тАЭ he
asked.

тАЬA quarter after eight,тАЭ Betty said. тАЬThereтАЩs one good thing to be said for the big clockтАФit certainly
keeps you straight about time.тАЭ

Carmichael couldnтАЩt help but agree. He and Royston exchanged a glance, and he shook his head a
fraction. He couldnтАЩt see much purpose in interrogating Betty any longer. тАЬWell, weтАЩll let you go back to
your dinner,тАЭ he said.

She went, with a few looks back at them as Carmichael opened the gate. тАЬWalk or drive up, sir?тАЭ
Royston asked.

тАЬBefore she mentioned the circus, I was thinking walk, to see if there might be tracks. Now, I suppose
we might as well drive.тАЭ

тАЬThere still might be something to see,тАЭ Royston said.

тАЬGot a hunch?тАЭ Carmichael asked. Royston was famous, or notorious, for his hunches. Sometimes they
were useful. Often enough they were a waste of time.

тАЬPerhaps I shouldnтАЩt, sir,тАЭ Royston said awkwardly, locking the car and pocketing the keys.