The Evil That Men Do.(Inspector Faro Mystery No.11) Read Online Free

the table in the middle of the meat and the dessert courses. Looks were exchanged but the company was too polite to do more than acknowledge his return.
    To a whispered question from Maud, he said: ‘Yes, of course, I’m all right, m’dear.’ And leaning over he patted his daughter’s hand. ‘I’ve been celebrating rather too well before we sat down to dinner.’
    Faro glanced round the table and caught a long look exchanged between Theodore and Adrian while Barbara studied her plate rather too intently, he thought, than the situation merited. Then without any further glance in Cedric’s direction, hastily the brothers resumed the general conversation. This deliberate ignoring of Cedric struck a false note somehow. As if they were all too well aware of the cause of his withdrawal.
    And Faro, well used to interpreting his own observations, felt uneasily that there was perhaps more in that moment of shared anxiety than could be justified by mere overindulgence in the Langweil cellars.
    At last Barbara stood up. ‘Shall we adjourn for coffee?’
    This was a new innovation which had Faro’s full approval. The Langweils on all but the most formal occasions had dispensed with the custom of gentlemen remaining to enjoy their port and cigars apart from the ladies.
    The company followed into the upstairs parlour, a welcoming withdrawing room with rose velvet curtains and a glowing fire. Here the family visitors usually spent their evenings together, reading and listening to Barbara play the piano.
    At Faro’s side, Piers said: ‘We are now in the oldest part of the house. This is the central block, the old tower-house.’ And tapping his foot on the floor, ‘Below us are the foundations of the original alehouse.’ To Theodore he added: ‘I suppose you realise, sir, that according to the original plans and the Session Records, this room was once considerably larger than it is now.’
    The position of the fireplace, set two-thirds of the way along the wall, instead of centrally as was customary, was out of symmetry: a curiosity which had often jarred on Faro’s earlier visits.
    ‘One of Grandfather’s alterations last century,’ said Theodore.
    ‘I don’t think so, sir. Pardon me if I disagree but it is much more recent. When I was last here with Mrs Langweil and Mr Cedric—’
    ‘While I was absent in Glasgow, of course,’ said Theodore shortly with a veiled glance in his wife’s direction.
    ‘My dear, it was merely—’ Barbara began.
    As usual she was not allowed to complete the sentence. Theodore patted her arm. ‘I’m not blaming you, my dear, of course I’m not,’ he added, with a gentle smile at her anxious expression.
    ‘I merely thought, sir,’ Piers put in, ‘that this room, adjoining the drawing room, would have been in the old days the laird’s study, or the master bedroom. However, there is something not quite right.’ And tapping his foot on the floor, ‘There’s a ten-foot discrepancy in the original plans which I’ve had access to. You may be interested in seeing them—’
    ‘No need,’ said Theodore shortly. ‘I’m fully aware that the room has been altered at some earlier stage. You know what it’s like in these old houses, full of odd twists and turns. I’m sure you’ll find some cupboards on a later plan that have been dismantled to enlarge the rooms.’
    Piers was not to be put off. He continued eagerly: ‘I believe you were born here, sir.’
    ‘Indeed, as were all the family.’
    ‘Then these changes must have been quite recent. In your childhood even. Perhaps you’ve forgotten?’
    ‘No. I have already told you,’ Theodore said coldly. ‘There has been nothing done to this room.’ And with a gesture, ‘Not even decoration that I can recall.’
    Piers turned hopefully towards Cedric, who shook his head.
    ‘My brother is younger than I am,’ said Theodore.
    Cedric smiled. ‘I expect it was in our Papa’s day.’
    ‘But that isn’t possible, sir. The