The Secret of Chimneys
A young drifter finds more than he bargained for when he agrees to deliver a parcel to an English country house…Little did Anthony Cade suspect that a simple errand on behalf of a friend would make him the centrepiece of a murderous international conspiracy. Someone would stop at nothing to prevent the monarchy being restored in faraway Herzoslovakia.The combined forces of Scotland Yard and the French Surete can do no better than go in circles – until the final murder at Chimneys, the great country estate that yields up an amazing secret…
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Agatha Christie
The Secret of Chimneys
Copyright
HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by The Bodley Head 1925
Copyright © 1925 Agatha Christie Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cover by www.juliejenkinsdesign.com © HarperCollins/Agatha Christie Ltd 2008
Agatha Christie asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins ebooks
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Source ISBN: 9780007122585
Ebook Edition © OCTOBER 2010 ISBN: 9780007422784
Version: 2017-08-15
To my nephew
In memory of an inscription
at Compton Castle and a day
at the zoo
Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Anthony Cade Signs On
Chapter 2
A Lady in Distress
Chapter 3
Anxiety in High Places
Chapter 4
Introducing a Very Charming Lady
Chapter 5
First Night in London
Chapter 6
The Gentle Art of Blackmail
Chapter 7
Mr McGrath Refuses an Invitation
Chapter 8
A Dead Man
Chapter 9
Anthony Disposes of a Body
Chapter 10
Chimneys
Chapter 11
Superintendent Battle Arrives
Chapter 12
Anthony Tells his Story
Chapter 13
The American Visitor
Chapter 14
Mainly Political and Financial
Chapter 15
The French Stranger
Chapter 16
Tea in the Schoolroom
Chapter 17
A Midnight Adventure
Chapter 18
Second Midnight Adventure
Chapter 19
Secret History
Chapter 20
Battle and Anthony Confer
Chapter 21
Mr Isaacstein’s Suitcase
Chapter 22
The Red Signal
Chapter 23
Encounter in the Rose Garden
Chapter 24
The House at Dover
Chapter 25
Tuesday Night at Chimneys
Chapter 26
The 13th of October
Chapter 27
The 13th of October (contd)
Chapter 28
King Victor
Chapter 29
Further Explanations
Chapter 30
Anthony Signs On for a New Job
Chapter 31
Sundry Details
About the Author
Also by Agatha Christie
About the Publisher
Chapter 1
Anthony Cade Signs On
‘Gentleman Joe!’
‘Why, if it isn’t old Jimmy McGrath,’
Castle’s Select Tour, represented by seven depressed-looking females and three perspiring males, looked on with considerable interest. Evidently their Mr Cade had met an old friend. They all admired Mr Cade so much, his tall lean figure, his sun-tanned face, the light-hearted manner with which he settled disputes and cajoled them all into good temper. This friend of his now–surely rather a peculiar-looking man. About the same height as Mr Cade, but thickset and not nearly so good-looking. The sort of man one read about in books, who probably kept a saloon. Interesting though. After all, that was what one came abroad for–to see all these peculiar things one read about in books. Up to now they had been rather bored with Bulawayo. The sun was unbearably hot, the hotel was uncomfortable, there seemed to be nowhere particular to go until the moment should arrive to motor to the Matoppos. Very fortunately, Mr Cade had suggested picture postcards. There was an excellent supply of picture postcards.
Anthony Cade and his friend had stepped a little apart.
‘What the hell are you doing with this pack of females?’ demanded McGrath. ‘Starting a harem?’
‘Not with this little lot,’ grinned Anthony. ‘Have you taken a good look at them?’
‘I have that. Thought maybe you were losing your eyesight.’
‘My eyesight’s as good as ever it was. No, this is a Castle’s Select Tour. I’m Castle–the local Castle, I mean.’
‘What the hell made you take on a job like that?’
‘A regrettable necessity for cash. I can assure you it doesn’t suit my temperament.’
Jimmy grinned.
‘Never a hog for regular work, were you?’
Anthony ignored this aspersion.
‘However, something will turn up soon, I expect,’ he remarked hopefully. ‘It usually does.’
Jimmy chuckled.
‘If there’s any trouble brewing, Anthony Cade is sure to be in it sooner or later, I know that,’ he said. ‘You’ve an absolute instinct for rows–and the nine lives of a cat. When can we have a yarn together?’
Anthony sighed.
‘I’ve got to take these cackling hens to see Rhodes’ grave.’
‘That’s the stuff,’ said Jimmy approvingly. ‘They’ll come back bumped black and blue with the ruts in the road, and clamouring for bed to rest the bruises on. Then you and I will have a spot or two and exchange the news.’
‘Right. So long, Jimmy.’
Anthony rejoined his flock of sheep. Miss Taylor, the youngest and most skittish of the party, instantly attacked him.
‘Oh, Mr Cade, was that an old friend of yours?’
‘It was, Miss Taylor. One of the friends of my blameless youth.’
