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Five Little Pigs :: Christie Agatha
Страница: 92 из 147Caroline had talked lightly and gaily to the rest of us, cleverly contriving sothat several perfectly innocent-sounding remarks should have a sting. She hadn’t got Elsa Greer’s scornful honesty-with Caroline every thing was oblique, suggested rather than said.
Things came to a head after lunch in the drawing-room just as we were finishing coffee. I had commented on a carved head in highly polished beechwood-a very curious thing, and Caroline said: ‘That is the work of a young Norwegian sculptor. Amyas and I admire his work very much. We hope to go and see him next summer.’ That calm assumption of possession was too much for Elsa. She was never one to let a challenge pass. She waited a minute or two and then she spoke in her clear, rather over-emphasized voice. She said: ‘This would be a lovely room if it was properly fixed. It’s got far too much furniture in it. When I’m living here I shall take all the rubbish out and just leave one or two good pieces. And I shall have copper-coloured curtains, I think-so that the setting sun will just catch them through that big western window.’ She turned to me and said. ‘Don’t you think that would be rather lovely?’
I didn’t have time to answer. Caroline spoke, and her voice was soft and silky and what I can only describe as dangerous. She said:
‘Are you thinking of buying this place, Elsa?’
Elsa said: ‘It won’t be necessary for me to buy it.’
Caroline said: ‘What do you mean?’ And there was no softness in her voice now. It was hard and metallic. Elsa laughed. She said: ‘Must we pretend? Come now, Caroline, you know very well what I mean!’
Caroline said: ‘I’ve no idea.’
Elsa said to that: ‘Don’t be such an ostrich. It’s no good pretending you don’t see and know all about it. Amyas and I care for each other. This isn’t your home. It’s his. And after we’re married I shall live here with him!’
Caroline said: ‘I think you’re crazy.’
Elsa said: ‘Oh no, I’m not, my dear, and you know it. It would be much simpler if we were honest with each other. Amyas and I love each other-you’ve seen that clearly enough. There’s only one decent thing for you to do. You’ve got to give him his freedom.’
Caroline said: ‘I don’t believe a word of what you are saying.’
But her voice was unconvincing. Elsa had got under her guard all right.
And at that minute Amyas Crale came into the room and Elsa said with a laugh:
‘If you don’t believe me, ask him.’
And Caroline said: ‘I will.’
She didn’t pause at all.
Things came to a head after lunch in the drawing-room just as we were finishing coffee. I had commented on a carved head in highly polished beechwood-a very curious thing, and Caroline said: ‘That is the work of a young Norwegian sculptor. Amyas and I admire his work very much. We hope to go and see him next summer.’ That calm assumption of possession was too much for Elsa. She was never one to let a challenge pass. She waited a minute or two and then she spoke in her clear, rather over-emphasized voice. She said: ‘This would be a lovely room if it was properly fixed. It’s got far too much furniture in it. When I’m living here I shall take all the rubbish out and just leave one or two good pieces. And I shall have copper-coloured curtains, I think-so that the setting sun will just catch them through that big western window.’ She turned to me and said. ‘Don’t you think that would be rather lovely?’
I didn’t have time to answer. Caroline spoke, and her voice was soft and silky and what I can only describe as dangerous. She said:
‘Are you thinking of buying this place, Elsa?’
Elsa said: ‘It won’t be necessary for me to buy it.’
Caroline said: ‘What do you mean?’ And there was no softness in her voice now. It was hard and metallic. Elsa laughed. She said: ‘Must we pretend? Come now, Caroline, you know very well what I mean!’
Caroline said: ‘I’ve no idea.’
Elsa said to that: ‘Don’t be such an ostrich. It’s no good pretending you don’t see and know all about it. Amyas and I care for each other. This isn’t your home. It’s his. And after we’re married I shall live here with him!’
Caroline said: ‘I think you’re crazy.’
Elsa said: ‘Oh no, I’m not, my dear, and you know it. It would be much simpler if we were honest with each other. Amyas and I love each other-you’ve seen that clearly enough. There’s only one decent thing for you to do. You’ve got to give him his freedom.’
Caroline said: ‘I don’t believe a word of what you are saying.’
But her voice was unconvincing. Elsa had got under her guard all right.
And at that minute Amyas Crale came into the room and Elsa said with a laugh:
‘If you don’t believe me, ask him.’
And Caroline said: ‘I will.’
She didn’t pause at all.