命案目睹记39
时间：2025-10-20 07:27:10
（单词翻译:单击）
Eighteen
I
Craddock was escorted by the boys through the back door into the house.
This was, it seemed, their common mode of entrance. The kitchen was
bright and cheerful. Lucy, in a large white apron, was rolling out pastry.
Leaning against the dresser, watching her with a kind of dog-like atten-
tion, was Bryan Eastley. With one hand he tugged at his large fair mous-
tache.
“Hallo, Dad,” said Alexander kindly. “You out here again?”
“I like it out here,” said Bryan, and added: “Miss Eyelesbarrow doesn’t
mind.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” said Lucy. “Good evening, Inspector Craddock.”
“Coming to detect in the kitchen?” asked Bryan with interest.
“Not exactly. Mr. Cedric Crackenthorpe is still here, isn’t he?”
“Oh, yes, Cedric’s here. Do you want him?”
“I’d like a word with him—yes, please.”
“I’ll go and see if he’s in,” said Bryan. “He may have gone round to the
local.”
He unpropped himself from the dresser.
“Thank you so much,” said Lucy to him. “My hands are all over flour or
I’d go.”
“What are you making?” asked Stoddart-West anxiously.
“Peach flan.”
“Good-oh,” said Stoddart-West.
“Is it nearly suppertime?” asked Alexander.
“No.”
“Gosh! I’m terribly hungry.”
“There’s the end of the ginger cake in the larder.”
The boys made a concerted rush and collided in the door.
“They’re just like locusts,” said Lucy.
“My congratulations to you,” said Craddock.
“What on—exactly?”
“Your ingenuity—over this!”
“Over what!”
Craddock indicated the folder containing the letter.
“Very nicely done,” he said.
“What are you talking about?”
“This, my dear girl—this.” He half-drew it out.
She stared at him uncomprehendingly.
Craddock felt suddenly dizzy.
“Didn’t you fake this clue—and put it in the boiler room, for the boys to
find? Quick—tell me.”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about,” said Lucy. “Do
you mean that—?”
Craddock slipped the folder quickly back in his pocket as Bryan re-
turned.
“Cedric’s in the library,” he said. “Go on in.”
He resumed his place on the dresser. Inspector Craddock went to the lib-
rary.
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