‘Oh, no, of course not, and I don’t suppose there’s anything in it at all. It’s just that it’s one of those things,’ said Laura, waving her hand. ‘You see, I wouldn’t think anything of it if they hadn’t been so crazy.’
‘They?’
‘The men with the barrel-organ. It used to play
Sweyn said:
‘What do you think of the bust?’
Laura had not noticed it. It was on a high shelf and did not show to advantage, so she stretched up on her toes to obtain a better view. Sweyn, who was even taller than she was, lifted it down and placed it on top of a bookcase. Laura studied it critically.
‘So it’s not in bronze. They’ve painted it gold,’ she said. ‘Yes, it’s good, but does he often have quite such a petulant look?’
‘Oh, I think so,’ Sweyn replied. ‘He has been spoilt by my father. And now, this about the police and the barrel-organ. Are you to be arrested?’
Laura answered his jesting smile with a straight stare and replied:
‘Hardly. You know, this is difficult. You see, I’ve got a feeling that the cylinder is in this house, but, even if it is, I don’t see how I can prove anything from it, and, after all, the Colwyn-Welch family are your relatives, aren’t they?’
‘From which I am to infer…?’
‘Oh,
‘Well, yes, there is, in a way,’ answered Sweyn. ‘I came over because Derde thought there might be a clue here and he asked my aunt Binnen for the keys to the apartment.’
‘Was she willing to give them up?’ asked Laura sharply. Sweyn looked surprised.
‘Why not?’ he asked in his gentle voice. ‘She is greatly worried about the disappearance of Florian. She blames herself. Except to say that he was going to Hoorn, he left no word at all, and she feels she should have discovered his plans.’
‘Hoorn? That’s not far from here, is it?’
‘Not far. He told her that he was going fishing.’
‘She didn’t mention any of this to Dame Beatrice.’
‘She is becoming old. Things do not register themselves in her mind, perhaps, as they used to do.’
‘
‘Yes, she will know by now. What about this cylinder from the barrel-organ. You think it is important?’
‘Well, as I indicated, if it isn’t important why should those two men stall about it and report me to the police and all that? It
‘Only in the eyes of some ladies, perhaps. Some ladies are not in proportion.’
‘Thirty-six twenty-four ninety-two?’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Sorry! I think you meant that some women lack a
‘I am sure that is what I meant. Thank you. I refer, of course, to my cousins Opal and Ruby. Now, this cylinder. You will help me search?’
‘When I came here,’ said Laura, with her usual candour, ‘I was prepared (if able to obtain permission) to turn the joint upside down to look for it. But, honestly, I don’t see how the cylinder could prove what I want to prove, so I don’t think I’ll bother. Thank you for your help. So long!’
‘No,’ said Sweyn, ‘do not go like that. Tell me your suspicions. I do not like my cousins. You will not offend me, whatever you may say.’
‘So all the cats jump the same way, do they? That’s worth knowing, I suppose.’
‘I am not anxious for cats.’
‘Nor me, neither. Give me a good stupid horse that will eat his oats.’
Sweyn looked perplexed.
‘The English are so fond of animals,’ he said doubtfully.
‘Fonder than they are of human beings, I think you mean, but I’m
‘Oh, yes. I cannot think why my aunt did not mention Hoorn sooner.’
‘So all that stuff about the Dolomites was so much mashed potato!’
‘The Dolomites? Oh, we never thought that Florian would go to the Dolomites.’
‘Your cousin Opal seemed to think he would.’
‘Opal? She has strange ideas, like other lonely people. One takes very little notice. Tell me, Mrs Gavin, have you seen the Saxon cross at the church of Hope in Derbyshire, England?’
