Chapter 15
Hannibal Sees Active Service with Mr Crispin
Albert tapped on the bedroom door and in answer to Tuppence’s ‘Come in’
advanced his head round the side of it.
‘The lady as came the other morning,’ he said. ‘Miss Mullins. She’s here.
Wants to speak to you for a minute or two. Suggestions about the garden, Iunderstand. I said as you was in bed and I wasn’t sure if you were receiv-ing.’
‘The words you use, Albert,’ said Tuppence. ‘All right. I am receiving.’
‘I was just going to bring your morning coffee up.’
‘Well, you can bring that up and another cup. That’s all. There’ll beenough for two, won’t there?’
‘Oh yes, madam.’
‘Very well, then. Bring it up, put it on the table over there, and thenbring Miss Mullins up.’
‘What about Hannibal?’ said Albert. ‘Shall I take him down and shut himup in the kitchen?’
‘He doesn’t like being shut up in the kitchen. No. Just push him into thebathroom and shut the door of it when you’ve done so.’
Hannibal, resenting the insult which was being put upon him, allowedwith a bad grace Albert’s pushing him into the bathroom and adjustmentto the door. He gave several loud fierce barks.
‘Shut up!’ Tuppence shouted to him. ‘Shut up!’
Hannibal consented to shut up as far as barking went. He lay down withhis paws in front of him and his nose pressed to the crack under the doorand uttered long, non-cooperative growls².
‘Oh, Mrs Beresford,’ cried Miss Mullins, ‘I’m afraid I am intruding³, but Ireally thought you’d like to look at this book I have on gardening. Sugges-tions for planting at this time of year. Some very rare and interestingshrubs and they do quite well in this particular soil although some peoplesay they won’t…Oh dear–oh no, oh, it’s very kind of you. Yes, I would like acup of coffee. Please let me pour it out for you, it’s so difficult when you’rein bed. I wonder, perhaps–’ Miss Mullins looked at Albert, who obliginglydrew up a chair.
‘That be all right for you, miss?’ he demanded.
‘Oh yes, very nice indeed. Dear me, is that another bell downstairs?’
‘Milk, I expect,’ said Albert. ‘Or might be the grocer. It’s his morning. Ex-cuse me, won’t you.’
He went out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Hannibal gaveanother

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