Читать книгу Murder Must Advertise. A Detective Story онлайн

10 страница из 43

“Mr. Willis on your right, Mr. Garrett on your left—both comrades in affliction. That is the whole department, except Mr. Hankin and Mr. Armstrong who are directors, and Mr. Copley, who is a man of weight and experience and does not come and frivol in the typists' room. He goes out for his elevenses, and assumes seniority though he hath it not.”

Mr. Bredon grasped the hands extended to him and murmured politely.

“Would you like to be in on the Derby sweep?” inquired Miss Rossiter, with an eye to the cash-box. “You're just in time for the draw.”

“Oh, rather,” said Mr. Bredon. “How much?”

“Sixpence.”

“Oh, yes, rather. I mean, it's jolly good of you. Of course, absolutely—must be in on the jolly old sweep, what?”

“That brings the first prize up to a pound precisely,” said Miss Rossiter, with a grateful sigh. “I was afraid I should have to take two tickets myself. Type Mr. Bredon's for him, Parton. B,R,E,D,O,N—like summer-time on Bredon?”

“That's right.”

Miss Parton obligingly typed the name and added another blank ticket to the collection in the biscuit-box.