{"id":2349,"date":"2026-01-03T22:24:39","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T22:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/dumb-witness-christie-agatha\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T22:24:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T22:24:39","slug":"dumb-witness-christie-agatha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/dumb-witness-christie-agatha\/","title":{"rendered":"Dumb Witness – Christie, Agatha"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Book Preview<\/h3>\n
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One<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

THE<\/span> MISTRESS OF<\/span> LITTLEGREEN<\/span> HOUSE<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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M<\/span><\/span>iss Arundell died on May 1st. Though her illness was short her death did not occasion much surprise in the little country town of Market Basing where she had lived since she was a girl of sixteen. For Emily Arundell was well over seventy, the last of a family of five, and she had been known to be in delicate health for many years and had indeed nearly died of a similar attack to the one that killed her some eighteen months before.<\/p>\n

But though Miss Arundell\u2019s death surprised no one, something else did. The provisions of her will gave rise to varying emotions, astonishment, pleasurable excitement, deep condemnation, fury, despair, anger and general gossip. For weeks and even months Market Basing was to talk of nothing else! Everyone had their own contribution to make to the subject from Mr. Jones the grocer, who held that \u201cblood was thicker than water,\u201d to Mrs. Lamphrey at the post office, who repeated ad nauseam<\/span> that \u201cthere\u2019s something behind it, depend upon it! You mark my words.\u201d<\/p>\n

What added zest to the speculations on the subject was the fact that the will had been made as lately as April 21st. Add to this the further fact that Emily Arundell\u2019s near relations had been staying with her just before that date over Easter Bank Holiday and it will be realized that the most scandalous theories could be propounded, pleasurably relieving the monotony of everyday life in Market Basing.<\/p>\n

There was one person who was shrewdly suspected of knowing more about the matter than she was willing to admit. That was Miss Wilhelmina Lawson, Miss Arundell\u2019s companion. Miss Lawson, however, professed herself just as much in the dark as everyone else. She, too, she declared, had been dumbfounded when the will was read out.<\/p>\n

A lot of people, of course, did not believe this. Nevertheless, whether Miss Lawson was or was not as ignorant as she declared herself to be, only one person really knew the true facts. That person was the dead woman herself. Emily Arundell had kept her own counsel as she was in the habit of doing. Even to her lawyer she had said nothing of the motives underlying her action. She was content with making her wishes clear.<\/p>\n

In that reticence could be found the keynote of Emily Arundell\u2019s character. She was, in every respect, a typical product of her generation. She had both its virtues and its vices. She was autocratic and often overbearing, but she was also intensely warmhearted. Her tongue was sharp but her actions were kind. She was outwardly sentimental but inwardly shrewd. She had a succession of companions whom she bullied unmercifully, but treated with great generosity. She had a great sense of family obligation. On the Friday before Easter Emily Arundell was standing in the hall of Littlegreen House giving various directions to Miss Lawson.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Emily Arundell had been a handsome girl and she was now a well-preserved handsome old lady with a straight back and a brisk manner. A faint yellowness in her skin was a warning that she could not eat rich food with impunity.<\/p>\n

Miss Arundell was saying:<\/p>\n

\u201cNow then, Minnie, where have you put them all?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I thought\u2014I hope I\u2019ve done right\u2014Dr. and Mrs. Tanios in the Oak room and Theresa in the Blue room and Mr. Charles in the Old Nursery\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Arundell interrupted:<\/p>\n

\u201cTheresa can have the Old Nursery and Charles will have the Blue room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes\u2014I\u2019m sorry\u2014I thought the Old Nursery being rather more inconvenient\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will do very nicely for Theresa.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Miss Arundell\u2019s day, women took second place. Men were the important members of society.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry the dear little children aren\u2019t coming,\u201d murmured Miss Lawson, sentimentally.<\/p>\n

She loved children and was quite incapable of managing them.<\/p>\n

\u201cFour visitors will be quite enough,\u201d said Miss Arundell. \u201cIn any case Bella spoils her children abominably. They never dream of doing what they are told.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minnie Lawson murmured:<\/p>\n

\u201cMrs. Tanios is a very devoted mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Arundell said with grave approval:<\/p>\n

\u201cBella is a good woman.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Lawson sighed and said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt must be very hard for her sometimes\u2014living in an outlandish place like Smyrna.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emily Arundell replied:<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has made her bed and she must lie on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

And having uttered this final Victorian pronouncement she went on:<\/p>\n

\u201cI am going to the village now to speak about the orders for the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Miss Arundell, do let me. I mean\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNonsense. I prefer to go myself. Rogers needs a sharp word. The trouble with you is, Minnie, that you\u2019re not emphatic<\/span> enough. Bob! Bob! Where is<\/span> the dog?\u201d<\/p>\n

A wirehaired terrier came tearing down the stairs. He circled round and round his mistress uttering short staccato barks of delight and expectation.<\/p>\n

Together mistress and dog passed out of the front door and down the short path to the gate.<\/p>\n

Miss Lawson stood in the doorway smiling rather foolishly after them, her mouth a little open. Behind her a voice said tartly:<\/p>\n

\u201cThem pillowcases you gave me, miss, isn\u2019t a pair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? How stupid of me\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minnie Lawson plunged once more into household routine.<\/p>\n

Emily Arundell, attended by Bob, made a royal progress down the main street of Market Basing.<\/p>\n

It was very much of a royal progress. In each shop she entered the proprietor always hurried forward to attend to her.<\/p>\n

She was Miss Arundell of Littlegreen House. She was \u201cone of our oldest customers.\u201d She was \u201cone of the old school. Not many about like her nowadays.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, miss. What can I have the pleasure of doing for you\u2014Not tender? Well, I\u2019m sorry to hear that. I thought myself it was as nice a little saddle\u2014Yes, of course, Miss Arundell. If you say so, it is so\u2014No, indeed I wouldn\u2019t think of sending Canterbury to you,<\/span> Miss Arundell\u2014Yes, I\u2019ll see to it myself, Miss Arundell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bob and Spot, the butcher\u2019s dog, circled slowly round each other, hackles raised, growling gently. Spot was a stout dog of nondescript breed. He knew that he must not fight with customers\u2019 dogs, but he permitted himself to tell them, by subtle indication, just exactly what mincemeat he would make of them were he free to do so.<\/p>\n

Bob, a dog of spirit, replied in kind.<\/p>\n

Emily Arundell said \u201cBob!\u201d sharply and passed on.<\/p>\n

In the greengrocer\u2019s there was a meeting of heavenly bodies. Another old lady, spherical in outline, but equally distinguished by that air of royalty, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cMornin\u2019, Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, Caroline.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caroline Peabody said:<\/p>\n

\u201cExpecting any of your young people down?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, all of them. Theresa, Charles and Bella.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Bella\u2019s home, is she? Husband too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a simple monosyllable, but underlying it was knowledge common to both ladies.<\/p>\n

For Bella Biggs, Emily Arundell\u2019s niece, had married a Greek. And Emily Arundell\u2019s people, who were what is known as \u201call service people,\u201d simply did not marry Greeks.<\/p>\n

By way of being obscurely comforting (for of course such a matter could not be referred to openly) Miss Peabody said:<\/p>\n

\u201cBella\u2019s husband\u2019s got brains. And<\/span> charming manners!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis manners are delightful,\u201d agreed Miss Arundell.<\/p>\n

Moving out into the street Miss Peabody asked:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this about Theresa being engaged to young Donaldson?\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Arundell shrugged her shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung people are so casual nowadays. I\u2019m afraid it will have to be a rather long engagement\u2014that is, if anything comes of it. He has no money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Theresa has her own money,\u201d said Miss Peabody.<\/p>\n

Miss Arundell said stiffly:<\/p>\n

\u201cA man could not possibly wish to live on his wife\u2019s money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Peabody gave a rich, throaty chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t seem to mind doing it, nowadays. You and I are out of date, Emily. What I can\u2019t understand is what the child sees<\/span> in him. Of all the namby-pamby young men!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a clever doctor, I believe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose pince-nez<\/span>\u2014and that stiff way of talking! In my young days we\u2019d have called him a poor stick!\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a pause while Miss Peabody\u2019s memory, diving into the past, conjured up visions of dashing, bewhiskered young men\u2026.<\/p>\n

She said with a sigh:<\/p>\n

\u201cSend that young dog Charles along to see me\u2014if he\u2019ll come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. I\u2019ll tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two ladies parted.<\/p>\n

They had known each other for considerably over fifty years. Miss Peabody knew of certain regrettable lapses in the life of General Arundell, Emily\u2019s father. She knew just precisely what a shock Thomas Arundell\u2019s marriage had been to his sisters. She had a very shrewd idea of certain troubles connected with the younger generation.<\/p>\n

But no word had ever passed between the two ladies on any of these subjects. They were both upholders of family dignity, family solidarity, and complete reticence on family matters.<\/p>\n

Miss Arundell walked home, Bob trotting sedately at her heels. To herself, Emily Arundell admitted what she would never have admitted to another human being, her dissatisfaction with the younger generation of her family.<\/p>\n

Theresa, for instance. She had no control over Theresa since the latter had come into her own money at the age of twenty-one. Since then the girl had achieved a certain notoriety. Her picture was often in the papers. She belonged to a young, bright, go-ahead set in London\u2014a set that had freak parties and occasionally ended up in the police courts. It was not the kind of notoriety that Emily Arundell approved of for an Arundell. In fact, she disapproved very much of Theresa\u2019s way of living. As regards the girl\u2019s engagement, her feelings were slightly confused. On the one hand she did not consider an upstart Dr. Donaldson good enough for an Arundell. On the other she was uneasily conscious that Theresa was a most unsuitable wife for a quiet country doctor.<\/p>\n

With a sigh her thoughts passed on to Bella. There was no fault to find with Bella. She was a good woman\u2014a devoted wife and mother, quite exemplary in behaviour\u2014and extremely dull! But even Bella could not be regarded with complete approval. For Bella had married a foreigner\u2014and not only a foreigner\u2014but a Greek. In Miss Arundell\u2019s prejudiced mind a Greek was almost as bad as an Argentine or a Turk. The fact that Dr. Tanios had a charming manner and was said to be extremely able to his profession only prejudiced the old lady slightly more against him. She distrusted charm and easy compliments. For this reason, too, she found it difficult to be fond of the two children. They had both taken after their father in looks\u2014there was really nothing English about them.<\/p>\n

And then Charles\u2026.<\/p>\n

Yes, Charles\u2026.<\/p>\n

It was no use blinding one\u2019s eyes to facts. Charles, charming though he was, was not to be trusted\u2026.<\/p>\n

Emily Arundell sighed. She felt suddenly tired, old, depressed\u2026.<\/p>\n

She supposed that she couldn\u2019t last much longer\u2026.<\/p>\n

Her mind reverted to the will she had made some years ago.<\/p>\n

Legacies to the servants\u2014to charities\u2014and the main bulk of her considerable fortune to be divided equally between these, her three surviving relations\u2026.<\/p>\n

It still seemed to her that she had done the right and equitable thing. It just crossed her mind to wonder whether there might not be someway of securing Bella\u2019s share of the money so that her husband could not touch it\u2026.She must ask Mr. Purvis.<\/p>\n

She turned in at the gate of Littlegreen House.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Charles and Theresa Arundell arrived by car\u2014the Tanioses, by train.<\/p>\n

The brother and sister arrived first. Charles, tall and good-looking, with his slightly mocking manner, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cHullo, Aunt Emily, how\u2019s the girl? You look fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

And he kissed her.<\/p>\n

Theresa put an indifferent young cheek against her withered one.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are you, Aunt Emily?\u201d<\/p>\n

Theresa, her aunt thought, was looking far from well. Her face, beneath its plentiful makeup, was slightly haggard and there were lines round her eyes.<\/p>\n

They had tea in the drawing room. Bella Tanios, her hair inclined to straggle in wisps from below the fashionable hat that she wore at the wrong angle, stared at her cousin Theresa with a pathetic eagerness to assimilate and memorize her clothes. It was poor Bella\u2019s fate in life to be passionately fond of clothes without having any clothes sense. Theresa\u2019s clothes were expensive, slightly bizarre, and she herself had an exquisite figure.<\/p>\n

Bella, when she arrived in England from Smyrna, had tried earnestly to copy Theresa\u2019s elegance at an inferior price and cut.<\/p>\n

Dr. Tanios, who was a big-bearded jolly-looking man, was talking to Miss Arundell. His voice was warm and full\u2014an attractive voice that charmed a listener almost against his or her will. Almost in spite of herself, it charmed Miss Arundell.<\/p>\n

Miss Lawson was fidgeting a good deal. She jumped up and down, handing plates, fussing over the tea table. Charles, whose manners were excellent, rose more than once to help her, but she expressed no gratitude.<\/p>\n

When, after tea, the party went out to make a tour of the garden Charles murmured to his sister:<\/p>\n

\u201cLawson doesn\u2019t like me. Odd, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Theresa said, mockingly:<\/p>\n

\u201cVery odd. So there is<\/span> one person who can withstand your fatal fascination?\u201d<\/p>\n

Charles grinned\u2014an engaging grin\u2014and said:<\/p>\n

\u201cLucky it\u2019s only Lawson\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the garden Miss Lawson walked with Mrs. Tanios and asked her questions about the children. Bella Tanios\u2019 rather drab face lighted up. She forgot to watch Theresa. She talked eagerly and animatedly. Mary had said such a quaint<\/span> thing on the boat\u2026.<\/p>\n

She found Minnie Lawson a most sympathetic listener.<\/p>\n

Presently a fair-haired young man with a solemn face and pince-nez<\/span> was shown into the garden from the house. He looked rather embarrassed. Miss Arundell greeted him politely.<\/p>\n

Theresa said:<\/p>\n

\u201cHullo, Rex!\u201d<\/p>\n

She slipped an arm through his. They wandered away.<\/p>\n

Charles made a face. He slipped away to have a word with the gardener, an ally of his from old days.<\/p>\n

When Miss Arundell reentered the house Charles was playing with Bob. The dog stood at the top of the stairs, his ball in his mouth, his tail gently wagging.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, old man,\u201d said Charles.<\/p>\n

Bob sank down on his haunches, nosed his ball slowly and slowly nearer the edge. As he finally bunted it over he sprang to his feet in great excitement. The ball bumped slowly down the stairs. Charles caught it and tossed it up to him. Bob caught it neatly in his mouth. The performance was repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegular game of his,\u201d said Charles.<\/p>\n

Emily Arundell smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll go on for hours,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She turned into the drawing room and Charles followed her. Bob gave a disappointed bark.<\/p>\n

Glancing through the window Charles said:<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at Theresa and her young man. They are<\/span> an odd couple!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think Theresa is really serious over this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, she\u2019s crazy about him!\u201d said Charles with confidence. \u201cOdd taste, but there it is. I think it must be the way he looks at her as though she were a scientific specimen and not a live woman. That\u2019s rather a novelty for Theresa. Pity the fellow\u2019s so poor. Theresa\u2019s got expensive tastes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Arundell said drily:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve no doubt she can change her way of living\u2014if she wants to! And after all she has her own income.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEh? Oh yes, yes, of course.\u201d Charles shot an almost guilty look at her.<\/p>\n

That evening, as the others were assembled in the drawing room waiting to go in to dinner, there was a scurry and a burst of profanity on the stairs. Charles entered with his face rather red.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Aunt Emily, am I late? That dog of yours nearly made me take the most frightful toss. He\u2019d left that ball of his on the top of the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCareless little doggie,\u201d cried Miss Lawson, bending down to Bob.<\/p>\n

Bob looked at her contemptuously and turned his head away.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d said Miss Arundell. \u201cIt\u2019s most dangerous. Minnie, fetch the ball and put it away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Lawson hurried out.<\/p>\n

Dr. Tanios monopolized the conversation at the dinner table most of the time. He told amusing stories of his life in Smyrna.<\/p>\n

The party went to bed early. Miss Lawson carrying wool, spectacles, a large velvet bag and a book accompanied her employer to her bedroom chattering happily.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally most<\/span> amusing, Dr. Tanios. He is such good<\/span> company! Not that I should care for that kind of life myself\u2026.One would have to boil the water, I expect\u2026.And goat\u2019s milk, perhaps\u2014such a disagreeable taste\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Arundell snapped:<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be a fool, Minnie. You told Ellen to call me at half past six?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes, Miss Arundell. I said no tea, but don\u2019t you think it might be wiser\u2014You know, the vicar at Southbridge\u2014a most conscientious man, told me distinctly that there was no obligation to come fasting\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Once more Miss Arundell cut her short.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never yet taken anything before Early Service and I\u2019m not going to begin now. You<\/span> can do as you like.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no\u2014I didn\u2019t mean\u2014I\u2019m sure\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Lawson was flustered and upset.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake Bob\u2019s collar off,\u201d said Miss Arundell.<\/p>\n

The slave hastened to obey.<\/p>\n

Still trying to please she said:<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch a pleasant<\/span> evening. They all seem so pleased<\/span> to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmph,\u201d said Emily Arundell. \u201cAll here for what they can get.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, dear Miss Arundell\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy good Minnie, I\u2019m not a fool whatever else I am! I just wonder which of them will open the subject first.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was not long left in doubt on that point. She and Miss Lawson returned from attending Early Service just after nine. Dr. and Mrs. Tanios were in the dining room, but there were no signs of the two Arundells. After breakfast, when the others had left, Miss Arundell sat on, entering up some accounts in a little book.<\/p>\n

Charles entered the room about ten.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry I\u2019m late, Aunt Emily. But Theresa\u2019s worse. She\u2019s not unclosed an eyelid yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt half past ten breakfast will be cleared away,\u201d said Miss Arundell. \u201cI know it is the fashion not to consider servants nowadays, but that is not the case in my<\/span> house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. That\u2019s the true die-hard spirit!\u201d<\/p>\n

Charles helped himself to kidneys and sat down beside her.<\/p>\n

His grin, as always, was very attractive. Emily Arundell soon found herself smiling indulgently at him. Emboldened by this sign of favour, Charles plunged.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook here, Aunt Emily, sorry to bother you, but I\u2019m in the devil of a hole. Can you possibly help me out? A hundred would do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

His aunt\u2019s face was not encouraging. A certain grimness showed itself in her expression.<\/p>\n

Emily Arundell was not afraid of speaking her mind. She spoke it.<\/p>\n

Miss Lawson hustling across the hall almost collided with Charles as he left the dining room. She glanced at him curiously. She entered the dining room to find Miss Arundell sitting very upright with a flushed face.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Book Preview One THE MISTRESS OF LITTLEGREEN HOUSE Miss Arundell died on May 1st. Though her illness was short her death did not occasion much surprise in the little country town of Market Basing where she had lived since she was a girl of sixteen. For Emily Arundell was well over seventy, the last of … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2348,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[142],"class_list":["post-2349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-agatha-christie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}