Read Online The Tiger In the Smoke by Margery Allingham - Free Book Online Page B

matter her deepest consideration, ‘he hasn’t looked after him very well, has he?’
    Meg made an effort to think about Morrison and gave it up.
    â€˜Suppose Geoff
doesn’t
ring.’
    â€˜Eeh, he’ll telephone, lass.’ The door had been kicked open a little wider by a soft-soled shoe and Sam Drummock came cautiously into the room. He was carrying two large tulip glasses which he had overfilled, and he walked very steadily, like a three-year-old carrying a pitcher. He was a round man with a round bald head, and possessed the great strength which is inherent in the Midland breed. He had small shrewd eyes and a red face and was at the moment clad in his working garment. This was a sort of high-collared pyjama jacket in heavy shantung, most beautifully laundered and worn over tidy little grey flannel trousers. His small round feet were set in neat and shiny red slippers, and his entire appearance managed to suggest the highly conventional costume of some unknown land.
    â€˜Gin sling,’ he explained, handing each of them a glass. ‘I mixed it myself so I know it’s all right. It’s a pick-me-up. You need it. Wait till I get my can. It’s on the stairs.’
    He moved very quickly and lightly like the boxers he admired so much, and was soon back again, a shining pewter tankard in his hand.
    â€˜Well, I listened,’ he announced cheerfully. ‘It’s a killing, eh? Well, that’s bad. Still, cheer up. Thank God it’s not uz.’ A little chuckling laugh escaped him, and he roamed over to a bureau on whose lid a design for a wonderful wedding dress was displayed. ‘I’m going to see the old Queen in this,’ he said to Amanda with enormous satisfaction. ‘I’m going to sit in the front pew and hold my little top hat on my knee. If the old Bishop (and he hasn’t been looking too good lately, mind you) only foozles it, and Hubert has to do the marrying, I’m going to give her away.’
    He peered at the drawing again and made an explosive noise.
    â€˜I don’t like the bit underneath. That spoils it for me, that does. “
Darling, if I could only wear this myself I’d be in heaven
.” Signed Nicky. I’d Nicky the little so-and-so.’
    Meg smiled in spite of her preoccupation. ‘Nicolas de Richeberg is the most brilliant dress designer in the world, Uncle Sam.’
    â€˜So he ought to be.’ Sam raised his tankard. ‘Only the best is good enough for uz. But she’d look lovely in calico, my old Queen would. Meg – ’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜It’s on my conscience so I’ll have to tell you. That girl in Geoff’s office rang again. He’s forgotten a personal call that was booked to him by his Paris foreman or broker or whatever they call them. She wants him to phone the moment he comes here.’ Sam was worried. The anxiety peeped out of his kind little eyes and was gone again. ‘But it doesn’t signify.’ A hopeful idea occurred to him. ‘Maybe he’s gone and had a drink or two, eh?’
    â€˜That wouldn’t be like him.’
    â€˜No.’ He put his head into his mug and reappeared, refreshed. ‘Mind you,’ he said, ‘if it was Martin that was on the tiles I wouldn’t give it another thought. I’d
know
.’
    Amanda hesitated. ‘I never knew Martin, of course. Was he a wild person?’
    â€˜Martin?’ Sam put his head back and crowed aloud. ‘Oh, a dasher. A lively, dashing, smashing sort of a lad. But we don’t want to talk about him, poor fellow, do we?’ There were sudden tears in the twinkling eyes. ‘Oh lord, no. That’s done. That’s over. My old Queen’s going to be happy with a grand chap. She’s going to have a good steady sensible manly sort of a husband.’ He fixed the visitor with a solemn stare. ‘A grand chap,’ he declared. ‘One of the best. And