Read Online The Affair of the Mutilated Mink by James Anderson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: James Anderson
Tags: Fiction, General, Humorous fiction, Mystery & Detective, Detective and Mystery Stories, England, Traditional British, Country homes, Motion picture industry, Burford; Lord (Fictitious Character)
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Put her in the Dutch. And have a large fire lit and make sure the room's kept really warm. I imagine as an Italian she finds our winter rather hard to bear.'
Chapter Six
Rex Ransom's brow puckered as he made his way to his bedroom to dress for dinner. He was worried. Had that telegram to Laura Lorenzo just been a hoax? Or was Haggermeir, in spite of his denial, responsible for it? Had he wanted to invite her, but not liked to ask the Burford's permission - or, more likely, not wanted him, Rex, to know he was after her for The King's Man ? Either way, it seemed on the cards that she would sign. And Rex didn't like the idea at all.
For years his name had been the only one to appear above the title of his pictures. Laura Lorenzo, however, would certainly demand at least an equal billing - perhaps even top billing. Moreover, her first Hollywood picture would undoubtedly be something of an event. The top critics would attend press screenings in force. Haggermeir might even give it the full publicity treatment of a gala premier. Rex could see himself being reduced to the level of a supporting player.
His lips set tightly. He would not stand for it. He'd fight for his rights. And he had one trump card: Cyrus needed his cooperation to get this picture off the ground. It was him the Earl was a fan of. It was his charm that was going to win over the Countess.
As Rex reached his room on the corner of the main block and the west wing, he looked right and saw Haggermeir - camera round his neck, a tape measure and writing pad in his hands - leave an empty room at the end of the corridor. Rex was tempted to go and tackle him immediately. But then Haggermeir disappeared up the stairs to the next floor, and Rex opened the door of his room.
As he did so, he was hit by a blast of cold air. He switched on the light - and stopped.
Where the window had been was a gaping black hole. And the floor was littered with broken glass.
Rex stood hesitating, wondering what Emily Post would say was the correct thing to do under the circumstances. He shivered. Well, he couldn't pretend it hadn't happened. He'd freeze to death in here.
He went in search of his host.
* * *
Lord Burford stared round Rex's bedroom. He scratched his head. 'How very peculiar. I meantersay, if one of the maids had got careless and backed a broom through the window, you'd hardly expect her to do quite such a wholesale job. Likewise if small boys are trespassin' and started throwing stones.'
Rex said tentatively, 'I have heard of big birds - geese and suchlike — smashing into windows in the dark.'
The Earl looked impressed. 'That's a thought. You may - ah!' He bent down and picked something off the rug. It was a grey feather, two-inches long. 'Looks as if you may have hit the nail on the head, old man. Wonder if the creature killed itself. I'll send a servant to look outside in a moment. But what are we going to do with you? That's the problem. Of course!' He snapped his fingers. 'The Royal Suite.'
'Oh, I couldn't possibly—'
'Nonsense, Rex. We don't keep it exclusively for royalty. Besides, you've been a prince and a king in your time, so you ought to feel quite at home.'
'I've also been a pirate and a highwayman. All the same, I'm surely honoured.'
'Good. I'll arrange with Merryweather to have it made ready.'
Lord Burford smiled.
* * *
Dinner that evening was a great success. The food was a highly traditional English menu, most of it the actual produce of the estate; mushroom soup, grilled trout, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, apple tart and cream and Cheddar cheese, with an excellent selection of wines.
But it was as a social gathering that the occasion turned out far better than could have been anticipated. This was due largely to the presence of Laura. She looked exquisite in an extra- tight sheath gown of black velvet, split over emerald satin; and although she didn't herself speak much, she seemed to act as a sort of catalyst on some of the
Chapter Six
Rex Ransom's brow puckered as he made his way to his bedroom to dress for dinner. He was worried. Had that telegram to Laura Lorenzo just been a hoax? Or was Haggermeir, in spite of his denial, responsible for it? Had he wanted to invite her, but not liked to ask the Burford's permission - or, more likely, not wanted him, Rex, to know he was after her for The King's Man ? Either way, it seemed on the cards that she would sign. And Rex didn't like the idea at all.
For years his name had been the only one to appear above the title of his pictures. Laura Lorenzo, however, would certainly demand at least an equal billing - perhaps even top billing. Moreover, her first Hollywood picture would undoubtedly be something of an event. The top critics would attend press screenings in force. Haggermeir might even give it the full publicity treatment of a gala premier. Rex could see himself being reduced to the level of a supporting player.
His lips set tightly. He would not stand for it. He'd fight for his rights. And he had one trump card: Cyrus needed his cooperation to get this picture off the ground. It was him the Earl was a fan of. It was his charm that was going to win over the Countess.
As Rex reached his room on the corner of the main block and the west wing, he looked right and saw Haggermeir - camera round his neck, a tape measure and writing pad in his hands - leave an empty room at the end of the corridor. Rex was tempted to go and tackle him immediately. But then Haggermeir disappeared up the stairs to the next floor, and Rex opened the door of his room.
As he did so, he was hit by a blast of cold air. He switched on the light - and stopped.
Where the window had been was a gaping black hole. And the floor was littered with broken glass.
Rex stood hesitating, wondering what Emily Post would say was the correct thing to do under the circumstances. He shivered. Well, he couldn't pretend it hadn't happened. He'd freeze to death in here.
He went in search of his host.
* * *
Lord Burford stared round Rex's bedroom. He scratched his head. 'How very peculiar. I meantersay, if one of the maids had got careless and backed a broom through the window, you'd hardly expect her to do quite such a wholesale job. Likewise if small boys are trespassin' and started throwing stones.'
Rex said tentatively, 'I have heard of big birds - geese and suchlike — smashing into windows in the dark.'
The Earl looked impressed. 'That's a thought. You may - ah!' He bent down and picked something off the rug. It was a grey feather, two-inches long. 'Looks as if you may have hit the nail on the head, old man. Wonder if the creature killed itself. I'll send a servant to look outside in a moment. But what are we going to do with you? That's the problem. Of course!' He snapped his fingers. 'The Royal Suite.'
'Oh, I couldn't possibly—'
'Nonsense, Rex. We don't keep it exclusively for royalty. Besides, you've been a prince and a king in your time, so you ought to feel quite at home.'
'I've also been a pirate and a highwayman. All the same, I'm surely honoured.'
'Good. I'll arrange with Merryweather to have it made ready.'
Lord Burford smiled.
* * *
Dinner that evening was a great success. The food was a highly traditional English menu, most of it the actual produce of the estate; mushroom soup, grilled trout, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, apple tart and cream and Cheddar cheese, with an excellent selection of wines.
But it was as a social gathering that the occasion turned out far better than could have been anticipated. This was due largely to the presence of Laura. She looked exquisite in an extra- tight sheath gown of black velvet, split over emerald satin; and although she didn't herself speak much, she seemed to act as a sort of catalyst on some of the
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