... Not that I haven't
wanted to commit murder myself over many a game of bridge," he added,
with the irrepressible humor for which he was famous. Then he groaned,
the rueful twinkle still in his eye: "I'm afraid we're in for a lot of
gruesome kidding. Why, last night, in the club car of my train, three
tables of bridge players could scarcely play a hand for wisecracking
about the dangers of being dummy!... Well, boy, now that I've talked
myself past the worst shock, suppose you give me the low-down. But I
warn you I'm going to take a powerful lot of convincing."
Painstakingly, and in the greatest detail, Dundee told the whole story,
beginning with his arrival Saturday evening at the Selim house,
including the ghastly replaying of the "death hand at bridge"--a phrase,
by the way, which the prosecutor instantly adopted--and ending with
Ralph Hammond's establishing of an alibi, to the entire satisfaction of
Captain Strawn, as well as of Dundee himself. He was interrupted
frequently of course, scoffingly at first, then with deepening solemnity
and respect on the part of the district attorney.
"Let me see the plan of the house again," he said, when Dundee had
finished. "Also that table you've worked up showing the approximate time
and order of arrival of the four men.
Pages:
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211