Nest of Vipers

‘How about that?’ she asked, pointing to her red-ink-spattered drawing.

‘Her reactions were rather interesting,’ said Laura, recounting the story of her visit. Niobe’s reaction, upon being shown the drawing had been to exclaim, ‘So you know!’ To this Laura had replied: ‘Know what? Like the recent witness, I also read the small print.’

‘Know that the Master of Cups, Wands and Swords is dead.’

‘Upon which,’ said Laura, ‘she flung herself on to the carpet and, although she didn’t actually bite pieces out of it, one got the impression that it was only the feeling that she wouldn’t like the taste of it which restrained her. She drummed with the toe-caps of her sensible ward-shoes and sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. I left her to it, picked up both my drawings so that I could show them to you to see what you thought of them, and left as unobtrusively as possible after I’d wrapped up the yataghan again. I fancy it proved a real friend in time of need. Is that why you told me to take it with me?’

‘We live in an age of violence. Soon it will be suicidal for any woman (or man, either, for that matter) to stir abroad without ominous means of defence.’

‘What do you make of the Nutley reactions?’

‘Nothing, except that she knew of the antique-dealer’s death, as she seems to have assumed that you did.’

‘So she’s a double murderer!’

‘It has not yet been proved that she is a single one, of course. We have to remember that the death of this Eurasian warlock may have taken place after Chelion Piper’s release.’

‘Was it because you knew you would be recognised by Niobe and that, possibly, she would refuse to see you, that you sent me instead of going there yourself?’

‘That did cross my mind, of course. Besides, I cannot draw pictures. These sketches of yours are masterly.’

‘Just little things I toss off while I’m thinking about my next Academy picture. Have I really done any good?’

‘You have confirmed something which I had already guessed.’

‘About a nest of vipers being, in actual fact, a nest of witches?’

‘Exactly.’

‘What made you think so?’

‘I did not think so until I spoke with Miss Barnes.’

‘Spoke with? Not spoke to?’

‘Come, come! Do the prepositions of the most beautiful and articulate language on earth mean nothing to you?’

‘All right, then, until you spoke with Miss Barnes. Incidentally, I was not surprised that she was young and pretty, but I was surprised that she was so tall.’

‘She is what is called a model, as well as her having a reputation for possessing literary and artistic gifts.’

‘Well, she could give me an inch or so, and I’m above average height for a woman.’

‘I believe many models are nearly or quite six feet tall. They are thought to show off fashionable clothes better than women of lesser height can do.’

‘I call it a damn silly idea. What looks amazingly good on a stream-lined beauty queen of twenty-odd is just plumb ridiculous on a five-foot-three dump of wealthy middle-agery.’

‘Your strictures are very just, but now back to work.’

‘You don’t really think Piper is guilty and that the police arrested the right man after all, do you?’

‘Time and my familiar spirit will show. Ah, and talking of familiar spirits reminds me of a conversation I had with Mr Shard soon after I arrived at Weston Pipers. It meant something at the time, but coupled with our visit to Miss Kennett and Miss Barnes, it means a good deal more now.’

‘Familiar spirits? All that witchcraft business upstairs in the junk shop?’

‘All that Satanism upstairs in the junk shop, yes. There was the strange remark made by Miss Barnes, if you remember, as to the advisability of her contracting a matrimonial alliance.’

‘But do you think she was a virgin when she decided to hitch on to Hempseed?’

‘I have no doubt that a jury of witch-matrons had pronounced judgment and found in her favour.’

‘A sacrificial victim! No wonder she was scared enough to take Hempseed for better, for worse! So what next?’

‘When I have had a further talk with Miss Kennett, I shall seek out Mr Shard and find out exactly how much he knows. His propensity for spying and “listening ahint doors” may stand us in good stead.’

‘I suppose,’ said Laura, struck by a new idea, ‘all these witchcraft developments won’t end in washing out Niobe Nutley from the list of Murderers We Have Known?’

‘It is a thought which merits consideration, certainly.’

‘Does it put Piper back in the picture?’

‘He has never been entirely out of it. He had much to lose if Miss Minnie had lived to pursue her claim to Mrs Dupont-Jacobson’s property.’