II
At breakfast the next morning, Tuppence was aware at once of a certaintension in the atmosphere.
Mrs. Perenna, her lips pursed very tightly together, was distinctly acridin the few remarks she made. She left the room with what could only bedescribed as a flounce.
Major Bletchley, spreading marmalade thickly on his toast, gave vent¹ toa deep chuckle².
“Touch of frost in the air,” he remarked. “Well, well! Only to be expec-ted, I suppose.”
“Why, what has happened?” demanded Miss Minton, leaning forwardeagerly, her thin neck twitching³ with pleasurable anticipation⁴.
“Don’t know that I ought to tell tales out of school,” replied the Major ir-ritatingly.
“Oh! Major Bletchley!”
“Do tell us,” said Tuppence.
Major Bletchley looked thoughtfully at his audience: Miss Minton, Mrs.
Blenkensop, Mrs. Cayley and Mrs. O’Rourke. Mrs. Sprot and Betty had justleft. He decided⁵ to talk.
“It’s Meadowes,” he said. “Been out on the tiles all night. Hasn’t comehome yet.”
“What?” exclaimed Tuppence.
Major Bletchley threw her a pleased and malicious⁶ glance. He enjoyedthe discomfiture⁷ of the designing widow.
“Bit of a gay dog, Meadowes,” he chortled. “The Perenna’s annoyed. Nat-urally.”
“Oh dear,” said Miss Minton, flushing painfully. Mrs. Cayley lookedshocked. Mrs. O’Rourke merely chuckled⁸.
“Mrs. Perenna told me already,” she said. “Ah, well, the boys will be theboys.”
Miss Minton said eagerly:
“Oh, but surely—perhaps Mr. Meadowes has met with an accident. Inthe blackout, you know.”
“Good old blackout,” said Major Bletchley. “Responsible for a lot. I cantell you, it’s been an eye opener being on patrol in the LDV. Stopping carsand all that. The amount of wives ‘just seeing their husbands home.’ Anddifferent names on their identity cards! And the wife or the husband com-ing back the other way alone a few hours later. Ha ha!” He chuckled, thenquickly composed his face as he received the full blast of Mrs. Blen-kensop’s

分享到：