Read Online The Golden Goose by Ellery Queen - Free Book Online Page B

accomplished nothing but an inversion of the view, as in a mirror; and Coley, who had glanced guiltily away at Prin’s last sentence, glanced guiltily back. Brady, glowering, repaired to the bar just as Lieutenant Grundy marched in, followed by Dr. Appleton and the silent Boatner.
    The lieutenant was carrying a brown bottle by the very tip of its neck. It was the same half-empty bottle of bonded bourbon, Prin was sure, that she had seen upstairs on Uncle Slater’s bedside table. Detective Boatner—Prin took note of this phenomenon quite without reference to him personally—had Uncle Slater’s glass, also from the night table, balanced on one virtually invisible palm.
    â€œSo there you are,” said Aunt Lallie huffily. “You, the tall one with the pickleface. Would you be so good as to explain why you have entered my house and tramped all over it without permission? According to the TV shows, you should have produced a warrant or something. Well?”
    Grundy seemed a little thrown. “Madam,” he said, “I came here to look into the allegedly suspicious circumstances of a man’s death at the request of the deceased’s physician. For that no warrant is necessary.”
    â€œYes!” shouted Dr. Appleton.
    â€œIn the second place, Madam, it’s my understanding that this is not your house but the deceased’s house—”
    â€œPoint of order, Lieutenant,” said Twig. “Aunt Lallie is not a madam but a mademoiselle—on the well-aged side, like a good cheese, but a mademoiselle nevertheless.”
    â€œI should say so!” said Cousin Peet indignantly. “Isn’t a madam somebody who runs one of those awful places where men go? I don’t think it’s very nice of you to accuse my aunt of a thing like that when it isn’t true.”
    â€œBy God! this is too much!” Grundy exclaimed. “No one is accusing anyone of anything! I’m only conducting an investigation in a legal and orderly manner!”
    â€œI would like to know,” Prin said, “exactly what you are investigating.”
    â€œI’ve just told you! I’m investigating the death of Slater O’Shea.”
    â€œIsn’t it true that deaths are investigated only when they are not natural?”
    â€œWhen they’re not natural, or when someone thinks they’re not natural.”
    â€œI would like to know, then, what you have discovered to make you think that Uncle Slater’s death was not natural.”
    â€œI haven’t discovered anything yet, to tell the truth,” said Grundy reluctantly. “All I have so far is Dr. Appleton’s professional opinion.”
    â€œIf I were a policeman,” Coley said, “I would hesitate a long time before going out on a limb with poor old Dr. Appleton. It seems to me a highly precarious procedure.”
    â€œWhen the autopsy has been completed,” Dr. Appleton said with a corpse-like grin, “we will see how precarious it is!”
    â€œAutopsy?” Aunt Lallie screeched. “Did you say autopsy? I simply will not subject Slater to such an indignity, and that’s that!”
    â€œThat is not that,” said Dr. Appleton with enjoyment. “And the sooner you get used to the idea, Miss O’Shea, the better for all concerned.”
    â€œWe’ve had enough horsing around,” growled Lieutenant Grundy. “Let’s get to it.”
    â€œTo what?” asked Brady in an alarmed tone.
    â€œEverybody sit down!”
    Momentarily cowed, everybody who was standing sat down; those who were sitting, unconsciously burrowed deeper into their seats with their bottoms, as if to establish the fact. Lieutenant Grundy, still carrying the bottle, stood in the middle of the room, prepared to swivel in any direction.
    â€œMiss O’Shea,” Grundy began. Since there were three Miss O’Sheas present, a slight confusion ensued. The lieutenant