Read Online Charters and Caldicott by Stella Bingham - Free Book Online

down. ‘Reading lights should help its elucidation.’
    The figure of Venables, the clubman, also towel-clad but still looking distinguished, materialised out of the steam. ‘Crossword,’ he stated.
    â€˜Yes, difficulr one today,’ said Caldicott.
    â€˜That’s the answer. Reading lights should help its elucidation. Nine letters. Crossword.’
    â€˜How do you make that out?’
    â€˜Reading lights . Crossword lights – in other words, clues.’
    â€˜Yes, thank you, Venables,’ said Charters, irritated.
    â€˜Not at all, Caldicott.’
    â€˜Charters!’
    â€˜Sorry.’ Venables drifted away and was swallowed up by the steam.
    â€˜He did that to annoy us,’ said Charters.
    â€˜Mixed our names up? Doesn’t annoy me.’
    â€˜Told us the answer to one down. Just when I was on the verge of solving it.’
    â€˜Never mind, old man. Now we know that nineteen across begins with a D. Four letters.’
    Charters brightened. Then hearing a cough behind him, he clutched his newspaper to his damp chest, fearing another intrusion into his crossword. ‘Now look here, Venables...’ he began before recognising the Club porter through the steam. ‘Oh, it’s you, Barstow. What is it?’
    â€˜There’s a gentleman to see you both, sir,’ said Barstow.
    â€˜Gentleman? What gentleman?’
    â€˜A Mr Snow, sir.’ Barstow lowered his voice. ‘Well – Inspector Snow, to be more exact.’
    â€˜In the Club? I shall write to the Committee!’
    â€˜I should think the Committee will be writing to us when they get wind of the police tramping up and down the grand staircase,’ said Caldicott. ‘Where have you put him, Barstow?’
    â€˜In the smoking room, sir.’
    â€˜Then take him out of the smoking room and put him in the library where no one’ll find him,’ said Caldicott, much agitated by this breach of Club etiquette.
    â€™Fifth floor,’ said Margaret, studying the directory board in the main entrance of the prestige office-block in Mayfair that housed the Zazz Corporation. ‘Don’t steal anything I wouldn’t steal.’
    â€˜Wish me luck,’ said Jenny, Josh Darrell’s new temp. She turned to go in and almost collided with the mysterious Cecil St Clair, who also seemed to have business in the building. He stepped back and clicked his heels.
    â€˜See you for lunch,’ Jenny called over her shoulder to Margaret.
    Margaret cast an amused glance at St Clair. ‘Unless you get a better offer – Miss Brown.’
    While Inspector Snow waited for Charters and Caldicott, he entertained himself by straightening all the pictures that covered one wall of the Club’s library. Eventually he reached a very large portrait of Sir Robert Peel, hanging high above the mantelpiece. Here he had to admit defeat. Undeniably askew though it was, Snow couldn’t reach it without a ladder.
    Charters and Caldicott, who had dressed with utmost speed, paused on the threshold of the library and glanced over their shoulders to reassure themselves that no one was following them in. Peering round the library anxiously, they registered not one but two distressing sights: Inspector Snow, wiping dust from his hands as he stared regretfully up at Sir Robert, and another member already in occupation and reading a newspaper. Charters and Caldicott approached the Inspector on tiptoe. ‘Inspector Snow,’ Caldicott whispered.
    â€˜Sorry to barge in on your Club, gentlemen,’ said Snow in normal tones, to the anguish of the pair.
    Charters raised a warning finger to his lips, pointed to a prominent Silence sign, and hissed, ‘Yes it is rather unusual.’
    â€˜Grimes said you’d be here, Mr Caldicott, and I did want to get you both together,’ Snow went on more quietly. ‘Saves a special journey up to town, look at it that way, Mr Charters.’ Charters