hegirlgladysitseegladysrtinhher”
”reallyhoeresting”
”theresoneotherthing,spercivaldoyouknohingaboutblackbirds”jenniferfortescuestartedviolentlyshedroppedherhandbagonthefloorandbenttopickitup”blackbirds,inspectorblackbirdskindofblackbirds”hervoiceilingalittleinspectoeelesaid:
”justblackbirdsaliveordeadoreven,shallbolical”jenniferfortescuesaidsharply:
”idontknoeanidontknoyouretalkingabout”
”youdontknorsfortescue”
shesaidslowly:
”isupposeyouantheoneslastsuerinthepieallverysilly””thereeleftonthelibrarytable,too,there””ityfatherinlauchannoyedbyit”
”justannoyednothingre”
”ohiseeeanyes,isupposeyes,itstrueheaskedusifthererangersabouttheplace””strangers”inspectoeeleraisedhiseyebrows”hatsrspercivaldefensively
”strangers,”repeatedinspeafraidinanyway””afraididontknoean”
”nervousaboutstrangers,ian”
”yesyes,hedid,ratherofurseidontreerveryonthsago,youknopperhapsireallydothinkthatannersotisivesotisrfortescuedoyouthinkthatspossible,inspector””anythingspossible,”saidinspectoeeleandawayii
percivalfortescueinspectoeelefoundlancelotsittinghhishelibrarytheyogether”idonttointerruptyou,”saidneele,apologetically”einspector,arent”
patnodded
”iexpeaskingyou,”saidneele”doyouknorfortescue””blaused”eangenuinebirds,ortheslavetrade”inspeile:
”iotsureean,fortescueitsjustthatantionofblackbirdshastuedup””goodlord”lanine,isuppose”
inspectoeelesaidsharply:
”theblackbirdnehat”
lancefrownedinapuzzledfashion
”thetroubleisinspeeereshadytransaypapaspastsothingontheberanythingdefiniteaboutit””aunteffiethatsbottoit”
”yes”
”illgoandaskheraboutit,”saidinspeidableoldlady,fortescuealakesfeelquitenervous”lancelaughed
”yesaunteffieisery,shetakesapositivepleasureinreeringanythingthatsdetrintalinanyethingelseidiatelyafterteathatday,asatteroffactandsheaidethingthatshehadnttoldthepolice””thatseefairlycertain,”saidinspectoeele”shellnevertellitnow,poorgirl””noitseeaunteffiehadgivenhergoodadviceastospillinganythingshekneythegirldidnttakeit”inspeselffortheenunterheperatedtossrabottofortressrathertohissurprise,hefoundssrpletherethetissions”illgoaissrplerosehurriedlytoherfeet
”noneed,da”saidinspectoeele
”iveaskedssrpletoeandstayinthehouse,”saidssrabotto”nosenseinspendingneyinthatridinextdoortonedrrypeters,thessionary,haditlast””itsvery,verykindofyou,”saidssrple,”butireallythinkistntintrudeinahouseofuing””uingfiddlesti”herorisitthepoliceyoureanyobjections,inspector””nonefroe,da”
”thereyouare,”saidssrabotto
”itsverykindofyou,”saidssrplegratefully”illgoandtelephoothehoteltoandssrabottoaidsharplytotheinspector:”well,anddoyou”
”ieanythingabouttheblackbirdne,a”
ssrabottotteredasudden,shrillcackleoflaughter”hayouvegotontothat,haveyoutookthehintigaveyoutheotherdayoknoit””anythingyoucantell,da”
”iueagonoaybesonybrotherinlaanaehoandsaidtheclairthencessionoreveryoucallithlessthatsalliknow””ithinkyouknoorethanthat,a”saidneelepersuasively”anythingelseishearsayyoudontlikehearsayinthelaold””aa”
”ehereanddealotofthreatsofrevengesaidrexhadrderedherhusbandsilly,lodratieheredraggingalongaupleofyoungchil
