The Book of the Dead (25 page)
Read The Book of the Dead Online
Authors: Elizabeth Daly
“You got the best there is.”
“He says I could go into a sanitarium and not be a witness at all. He said they'd never make me.”
“They won't.”
“But of course I'll be a witness; to say it was all because I wouldn't let him have the divorce. Why did I keep thinking that because he once loved me he would again?”
“Everybody thinks that; they can't help it.”
“Well.” She had been looking out into the dusk; now she turned to him. “I mustn't take up your time; I thought I'd just stop in and get that book.”
“The Shakespeare?”
“If he ever wants his things again he might as well have them.”
“Of course.”
Gamadge went to the filing cabinet and got out the Shakespeare. He laid it open on the desk, and rubbed out what pencil marks remainedâthose between the lines. She seemed incurious; but she said: “It
is
dreadfully battered, isn't it?”
“I'll wrap it up for you.”
While he got paper and string she went on: “Barton Crenshaw must have come that evening while I was spending the night in San Francisco. Howard never read much; I was always at him to read the books from the Club, and I was always at him not to spend money. I wonder what it
was
that disgusted him so.”
Gamadge wrapped the book and handed it to her. When she had taken it from him she stood looking at him gravely. “I'll remember what you said,” she told him. “About Howard being driven. I must say the right things.”
“You'll do whatever can be done, Mrs. Crenshaw. There's no doubt of that.”
“Goodnight; and thanks very much.”
Theodore was in the hall, waiting respectfully to usher this tragic visitor out into the twilight. When the front door had closed behind her Gamadge went upstairs and telephoned to Schenck.
“Hello.” Schenck sounded jubilant. “What's new?”
“Evidence. Crenshaw is done for, and Billig is out.”
“We must celebrate.”
“I'm not quite in the mood. Mrs. Crenshaw was here.”
“No!”
“To get the Shakespeare. I owe her an apologyâshe doesn't want Lucette Daker boiled in oil; she isn't thinking of her at all.”
“What is she thinking about?”
“About how to convince a judge and a jury that it was all her fault; that she sent Crenshaw out of his head temporarily, you knowâand that she's entirely to blame.”
“Naturally she doesn't want him electrocuted; what would they say in Sundown, California?”
“It isn't entirely that. She's not a great soul, oh no; she's still the woman who wouldn't go to Crenshaw's funeral; but then she thought her husband had been actuated towards her by petty spite. Now she understands that it was a bigger thing than that; he really wasn't thinking of her at all, he was only trying to get out. Get out. But how many women in her place would take the blame? I thought she'd turn into a fury and ruin any chance Crenshaw might have.”
“It's shock; she's crushed for the time beingâshe'll get over it.”
“No, she won't.”
“Look here; you need diversion. I'm giving a cocktail party for Irene.”
“Who?”
“Irene Pender.”
“That's the boy.”
“Do you think Clara would come up for it?”
“If it's a serious occasion, of course she will.”
Schenck cleared his throat. “It's serious.”
“Good for you both.”
“She's too good for me, Gamadge; nice old family, old house, heirlooms; and some money from her grandmother.”
“And an excellent disposition.”
“We ought to have a pretty good time together. She just suits me, Gamadge.”
“I bet she never has another nervous breakdown as long as she lives.”
“Nervous breakdown? What do you mean? She's absolutely the most balanced person I ever metâin every way. What gave you the idea that she had nervous breakdowns?”
“I don't know.”
All the characters and events portrayed in this work are fictitious.
THE BOOK OF THE DEAD
A Felony & Mayhem “Vintage” mystery
PUBLISHING HISTORY
First U.S. print edition (Farrar & Rinehart): 1944
Felony & Mayhem print edition: 2010
Felony & Mayhem electronic edition: 2012
Copyright © 1944 by Elizabeth Daly
Copyright renewed 1971 by Frances Daly Harris, Virginia Taylor, Eleanor
Boylan, Elizabeth T. Daly, and Wilfrid Augustin Daly, Jr.
All rights reserved
E-book ISBN: 978-1-937384-23-4
You're reading a book in the Felony & Mayhem “Vintage” category. These books were originally published prior to about 1965, and feature the kind of twisty, ingenious puzzles beloved by fans of Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr. If you enjoy this book, you may well like other “Vintage” titles from Felony & Mayhem Press.
“Vintage” titles available as e-books:
The Poisoned Chocolates Case
, by Anthony Berkeley
The “Henry Gamadge” series, by Elizabeth Daly
The “Roderick Alleyn” series, by Ngaio Marsh
“Vintage” titles available as print books:
The “Albert Campion” series, by Margery Allingham
The “Gervase Fen” series, by Edmund Crispin
For more about these books, and other Felony & Mayhem titles, please visit our website:
