Patricia Wentworth: The Ivory Dagger

‘And pray how do you come to know that?’

Miss Silver coughed in a deprecating manner.

‘I ventured to approach him on her behalf. She has acted very wrongly. She came very near the commission of a terrible crime-“Jealousy is as cruel as the grave”. But Sir Herbert had not treated her rightly. He had forced her into a position which any woman might find intolerable, and it was certainly his duty to have provided for his child.’

‘And Haile played up?’

‘He responded in a most gratifying manner,’ said Miss Silver demurely. ‘He is also caring for Mrs. Marsham. She will, I understand, remain with him.’

Frank Abbott burst out laughing.

‘He may have a kind heart, but sticking to Mrs. Marsham seems rather to suggest an appreciative palate! I’m told that her cooking has to be tasted to be believed-one of those beautiful dreams that have almost vanished from a utilitarian world. Yes, I think the palate has it-with perhaps a strong dash of self-interest. He might want to give Marsham an inducement to hold his tongue. The poor devil is for it anyway, and he knows it, so he has nothing to gain by spattering Haile, and he may have something to lose-if Haile is going to look after his wife. Not very much in it, but “The little more, and how much is it. And the little less, and what worlds away!” as Browning has it.’

Miss Silver set down her cup.

‘Yes-there is that mixture of motives. It is pleasanter to turn to others. Lila Dryden will be safe and happy with Mr. Grey. I suspect that her money is all gone, but he has a modest competence, and country life will be good for her.’

There was a sarcastic gleam in Frank Abbott’s eye.

‘I don’t envy Grey the job. Perpetual nursemaid to a perpetual child!’

Miss Silver smiled.

‘It is not a rôle for which you are suited, but Mr. Grey will be happy in it. As for Miss Fortescue and Mr. Waring-’

‘Oh-are they to be happy too?’

‘I hope so. They have invited me to their wedding. It will be very quiet indeed. Just a few intimate friends.’

‘I shall fish for an invitation. Why, I almost arrested him. A unique and unforgettable bond! I suppose he wouldn’t like me to be best man on the strength of it? And do you give the bride away? As fairy godmother I think you should.’

Miss Silver shook her head reprovingly, but she smiled.

‘My dear Frank, you really do talk great nonsense,’ she said.

Born in Mussoorie, India, in 1878, Patricia Wentworth was the daughter of an English general. Educated in England, she returned to India, where she began to write and was first published. She married, but in 1906 was left a widow with four children, and returned again to England where she resumed her writing, this time to earn a living for herself and her family. She married again in 1920 and lived in Surrey until her death in 1961.

Miss Wentworth’s early works were mainly historical fiction, and her first mystery, published in 1923, was The Astonishing Adventure of Jane Smith. In 1928 she wrote The Case Is Closed and gave birth to her most enduring creation, Miss Maud Silver.