The Unfinished Clue

The Unfinished Clue (1934) Georgette Heyer

Set in England in 1934

They disliked one another with equal cordiality.

The General said that Dinah was an impudent hussy. Whereas Dinah drove him to the verge of an apoplexy by remarking with an air of naive wonder: ‘What odd expressions people of your generation do use! I remember my grandfather…’

But in spite of the fact that Sir Arthur’s principles forbade him to quarrel on the Sabbath, Sunday had not been a happy day.

Geoffrey got up jerkily. ‘Look here, Inspector!’ he burst out. ‘This is all jolly fine, but if you’ve marked me down as a suspect simply because I can’t bring a lot of witnesses forward to prove I’m speaking the truth – well, I call it a bit thick!’

Harding moved several of the papers on the table, and chose one from amongst them. With his eyes on it he said: ‘You hadn’t at any time during the week-end allowed Sir Arthur to kiss you?’

Camilla, her gaze also riveted to the paper, hesitated. The Sergeant, aware that amongst the various statements before Harding there was none in the least relevant to the question, nodded his head slowly in appreciation of this stratagem.

‘Do you mind if I ask you something?’

‘Not at all. What is it?’

‘Well, do you really wear a god-forsaken badge under the lapel of your coat, and show it to anybody who wants to know who you are?’

‘No, of course I don’t. I’m not an American!’ protested Harding.

Characters: Miss Dinah Fawcett, Lady Fay Billington-Smith, General Sir Arthur Billington-Smith, Francis Billington-Smith, Captain Geoffrey Billington-Smith, Lola de Silva, Stephen Guest, Basil Halliday, Camilla Halliday, Mrs Twining, Rev. Hilary Chudleigh, Mrs Emmy Chudleigh, Dr Raymond, Mr Horace Tremlowe, Concetta, Mr Samuel Lewis, Finch, Mrs Moxon, Joan Dawson, Peckham, Lester, Jarvis, Major Grierson, Inspector Harding, Superintendent Lupton, Sergeant Nethersole

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Rating: 8/10

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