CHAPTER 10-4

"But I assure you Elvira has been most carefullylooked after."

　　"The ingenuity of the young female of the speciesis beyond anything you could conjecture! You keep an eye on her, Derek. Make a fewinquiries as to what she‘s been up to."

　　"Nonsense. She’s justa sweet simple girl."

　　"What you don‘t knowabout sweet simple girls would fill an album! Her mother ran away and caused a scandal –remember? – When she was younger thanElvira is today. As for old Coniston, he was one of the worst rips in England."

　　"You upset me, Richard. You upset me very much."

　　"You might as well be warned. What I didn’t quite like was one of her other questions. Why is she so anxious to knowwho‘d inherit her money if she dies?"

　　"It’s queer yoursaying that, because she asked me that same question."

　　"Did she now? Why should her mind run on earlydeath? She asked me about her mother, by the way."

　　Colonel Luscombe‘s voicesounded worried as he said: "I wish Bess would get in touchwith the girl."

　　"Have you been talking to her on the subject –to Bess, I mean?"

　　"Well, yes…. Yes Idid. I ran across her by chance. We were staying in the same hotel, as a matter of fact. Iurged Bess to make some arrangements to see the girl."

　　"What did she say?" askedEgerton curiously.

　　"Refused point blank. She more or less said thatshe wasn’t a safe person for the girl to know."

　　"Looked at from one point of view I don‘t suppose she is," said Egerton. "She’s mixed up with that racing fellow, isn‘t she?"

　　"I’ve heard rumours."

　　"Yes, I‘ve heard themtoo. I don’t know if there‘s muchin it really. There might be, I suppose. That could be why she feels as she does. Bess’s friends are strong meat from time to time! But what a woman she is, ehDerek? What a woman."

　　"Always been her own worst enemy," said Derek Luscombe, gruffly.

　　"A really nice conventional remark," said Egerton. "Well, sorry I bothered you, Derek,but keep a look out for undesirables in the background. Don‘tsay you haven’t been warned."

　　He replaced the receiver and drew the pages on hisdesk towards him once more. This time he was able to put his whole attention on what hewas doing.